Congress hopes to form government again in Chhattisgarh. Whereas BJP is making every possible effort to capture power. The upcoming assembly elections will be like a test for Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel government. Actually, Baghel has made many farmer-friendly schemes in the last five years. Now it remains to be seen whether he gets political benefit from this in the elections or not. The Congress has tried to strengthen the connect with voters in rural and semi-urban areas with its key pro-farmer schemes focusing on direct fund transfers, higher MSP and other benefits.
With these schemes, Congress seems to be successful in gaining hold in rural and semi-urban areas. The first and major scheme was the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana, under which the Bhupesh Baghel government has given input subsidy of Rs 21,912 crore to about 23 lakh farmers growing Kharif paddy. Under this scheme, farmers who grow any one of the 14 identified crops are given an input subsidy of up to Rs 9000.
If a farmer plants banana, papaya or any fruit tree along with 13 other crops besides paddy crop, he gets an input subsidy of Rs 10,000 per acre. The first installment of benefits under this scheme was transferred in July 2022. Another major scheme is Godhan Nyay Yojana (Dung Purchase Scheme). The government has paid a total of Rs 580 crore to animal owners, Gauthan committees and women self-help groups.
Gobar Gas Yojana aims to empower the rural economy and promote organic farming. The plan’s figures and implementation are controversial. This is because in some districts the quantity of vermicompost made from purchased cowdung is more in proportion to the potential amount of vermicompost from cowdung. However, the government has also included the purchase of cow urine (cow urine) at Gauthan centers (cow sheds) to facilitate the transaction of cow dung.
Another big step of the Congress government is the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Landless Agricultural Laborer Justice Scheme which provides annual financial assistance to landless agricultural laborer families in rural areas. According to official data, assistance of Rs 7,000 is being provided to around 3.55 lakh beneficiaries under this scheme. The Baghel government has also announced that it will purchase 20 quintals of paddy during the current Kharif season compared to 15 quintals earlier. The direct cash benefits of these schemes have had a positive impact on the plains of Chhattisgarh and could be a game changer for the BJP’s aspirations of returning to power.
Political commentators believe that the 2023 assembly elections will be important to assess the results of these pro-farmer schemes of the Bhupesh Baghel government.
Chhattisgarh-based political commentator Harsh Dubey said, ‘For the last five years, the Bhupesh Baghel-led Chhattisgarh government has been giving primary focus to agriculture. Narva is implementing loan waiver under Garva Ghurva Bari (NGGB) programme, Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana, Rural Industrial Park (RIPA), Bhumihin Kisan Nyay Yojana and many such schemes. In the plains of Chhattisgarh, the government has focused on providing benefits to paddy farmers, while in the tribal areas it has focused on minor forest produce. It is true that these schemes directly benefited the farmers of the state, but whether these benefits will be available in the elections or not is a big question. I believe it will work in some areas, especially the central area, where there are around 55 seats.
Congress leaders believe that farmers dominate most of the seats in Chhattisgarh and hence the farmer-friendly schemes of Chhattisgarh will definitely give them results. Congress spokesperson Sushil Anand Shukla said, ‘Everyone in the state knows that the Congress government is working for farmers, tribals and the poor. We have set an example in the country by giving the highest bonus to the paddy farmers of the state. The schemes will definitely give positive results.
