Farmers in Meghalaya in urgent need of tools

Newmai News Network
Shillong, Apr 26: Congress MDC of Rambrai-Jyrngam, Bajop Pyngrope has highlighted the dire straits of the farmers under his constituency who are struggling to get hold of tools required for agricultural purposes.
“The spade is the main tool for the farmers in the cultivation season and if the government can address this problem of the farmers it will be very conducive because they are out of cash owing to the lockdown and if they the agricultural activities are affected at this crucial juncture, the farmers will incur great loss for the entire year,” Pyngrope said on Sunday.
Pyngrope also said that the agriculture department should enhance the free distribution of seeds, manure, etc and also subsidise all the agriculture materials to ease the burden on the farmers who are also constantly facing wrath of Mother Nature by way of hailstorms and heavy rainfall.
He said that all the agriculture materials should be disbursed in every district headquarter so that the farmers can go and collect them from their respective district.
Ridiculing the Pradhan MantriKisanSamman Nidhi (PM KISAN) scheme which is a Central scheme that grants only Rs 6000 a year to the farmers, he said that this is too meager an amount for a section that is considered as the backbone of the country.
He also criticised the new Executive Committee (EC) in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and said that it should have summoned a meeting of all MDCs to discuss and address the problems faced by the people during the lockdown.
“97 percent of our state falls under the Sixth Schedule area and it is high time that the District Council coordinates with the state government to be able to provide more and help the people of the state during this crisis,” he added.
He said that had the EC called for an all party meeting while maintaining social distancing and other safety measures, the members could have shared their ideas, though and suggestion on how to address the problem face by the people during the lockdown in a more conducive way.
“This is not a time to play politics and there is a need to take a collective decision to address this crisis and to see from where funds can be brought to help our people,” he said.
Pyngrope also said that the decision of the State Government to increase fuel prices is an embarrassment at this point of time when the international price of fuel has come down.
It may be noted that the Meghalaya government has increased taxes on petrol and diesel in a bid to augment its resources, which are under stress in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In an order issued on Tuesday, the government announced enhancement of taxes on motor spirit including petrol, by 31 per cent or Rs 17.60 per litre and on diesel by 22.5 per cent of Rs 12.50 per litre, whichever is higher. The new taxes came into effect from midnight.
The rates of petrol and diesel have been enhanced by Rs 5.11 per litre and Rs 5.06 per litre, respectively. The new rates of petrol and diesel are Rs 73.29 per litre and Rs 66.79 per litre.