Kolkata, 14 March (H.S.): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday paid tribute to those who died in the Nandigram, Singur and Netai incidents and extended greetings to farmers on the occasion of ‘Krishak Diwas’.

In two posts on social media platform X, Banerjee said the day is observed as ‘Krishak Diwas’ in memory of those who died during the Nandigram farmland movement.

The chief minister said farmers are the pride of the state and the country, describing them as the providers of food and asserting that the state government stands by them in every need.

Highlighting the government’s initiatives, Banerjee said under the ‘Krishak Bandhu (New)’ scheme, farmers, sharecroppers and bargadars receive financial assistance of Rs 10,000 annually, while those with smaller landholdings get a minimum of Rs 4,000.

The amount is transferred directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts in two instalments during the kharif and rabi seasons, she said.

According to Banerjee, the scheme has so far disbursed Rs 30,051 crore and benefited over 1.14 crore farmers, sharecroppers and bargadars.

She added that agricultural labourers have also been brought under the scheme and are being provided financial assistance of Rs 4,000 annually in two instalments, with funds already being credited to the bank accounts of around 28 lakh applicants from March 8.

Banerjee said more than 1.7 lakh farmer families have received assistance under the ‘Krishak Bandhu (death benefit)’ component, with Rs 3,419 crore disbursed so far.

The chief minister also said the state government bears the entire premium under the ‘Bangla Shasya Bima’ crop insurance scheme, under which over 1.15 crore farmers have received compensation exceeding Rs 4,005 crore.

She further said that more than 6.01 lakh agricultural machines have been distributed among farmers under a farm mechanisation scheme, while 2,525 farm machinery hiring centres have been set up with government support.

Banerjee added that the state government is procuring paddy at the minimum support price to prevent distress sales and plans to purchase around 70 lakh metric tonnes of paddy this year.

She said the government would continue to stand by farmers in the future as well.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey