Moved by farmers` plight, MP CM asks officers to suggest new relief measures

Bhopal: Concerned over the plight of farmers due to less rainfall, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has urged IAS and IFS officers to give a new direction to state's roadmap for development by suggesting short and long-term measures for providing relief to the scarcity-hit.

Reviewing the crop situation yesterday due to scanty rainfall in a meeting with all IAS, IPS and IFS officers, Chouhan said they have been given an opportunity to give a new direction to Madhya Pradesh's roadmap for development.

The Chief Minister asked them to suggest short-term and long-term ways for relief to farmers during this unprecedented crisis, an official of Public Relation Department said today.

Chouhan directed that each officer should visit minimum nine villages of two blocks in three days. They should hold discussions with farmers at Chaupal about present crop situation and implementation of government schemes and file report thereof.

The brief report in prescribed proforma should contain village-wise consolidated information. He said that soybean crop is being suffering losses for last few years.

Chouhan directed officials to take special measures to remove difficulties being faced by farmers, the official said.

He said it is the time to do something out of the way to help farmers and hoped that officers will liberally use their capacity and discretion in this regard.

It is a new experiment to help farmers break vicious circle of poverty. He asked officers also to review mid-day meal scheme also during their visits to villages, he said.

The state Chief Secretary Antony DeSa briefed the officers about works to be undertaken during visits.

DGP Surendra Sinh, Principal Secretary Forests Deepak Khandekar and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Narendra Kumar among others also attended the meeting.