Lucknow : September 24, 2012 Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mr. Akhilesh Yadav on Monday said that the state government has given an in-principle approval to the opening up of Apna Bazaars in Saifai and Jhansi, on lines of Lucknow. In the second phase, he added, more such bazaars would opened up in major towns and important cities of the state.
He also said that e-tendering would be done for above Rs. 10 crore construction works to be undertaken by the Mandi Parishad. Other than this, Mandi Parishad would also be giving a monthly scholarship of Rs. 6,000 to all research students doing research on Agriculture. The Chief Minister was chairing a meeting of the ‘Sanchalak Mandal’ of Mandi Parishad at the secretariat, annexe office.
He stressed the need of simplying procedures and functioning of the Mandi Parishad in such a manner that small and medium farmers are benefited. He also said that in order to extend the maximum benefits of government policies to farmers, Mandi Parishad has a pivotal role to play. Mr Yadav also directed officials to create such Bazaars that enable a farmer to sell his produce directly and the consumers get the produce at cost effective rates. The Rice Export Policy was also approved at the meeting under which the mandi fees on the exported rice would be exempted. The Chief Minister also said that the Apna Bazaar was very crucial in facilitating the farmers to directly sell their produce to the consumers.
There is no mandi fees on the products sold in retail here. In these markets artisans of 2 handicraft and handlooms can also be exhibited and sold. Arrangements would also be made for community functions etc. The Chief Minister also said that all students, sons and daughters of farmers studying in the agricultural universities, conducting research on agriculture would be given a Rs 6,000 per month scholarships. By an estimate approximately 125 students of five agricultural universities of the state would be benefited per year by these scholarships and research in the field of agriculture would also gain. The Chief Minister also directed officials to get construction works above Rs. 10 crore to be undertaken by the Mandi Parishad through e-tendering/e-procurement and all such tenders to be uploaded on the state government’s website. Mr. Yadav also said that administrative difficulties were coming for many years in the way of Mandi fees at state’s gud/khandsari units and the traders were facing difficulties in depositing the fees and hence the state government was beginning a one-time Mandi Fees settlement scheme from October 1, 2012 to September 30, 2013.
The Chief Minister also urged officials to make efforts to increase its income and prepare such policies that enable farmers to get the best price for their produce. During the meeting the Chief Minister was apprised that a fruit mandi at Noida and Sahibabad was being extended and a modern fish mandi would be set up at Gorakhpur. A decision was also taken to make mandi’s at Shravasti in Bhinga and to extend the Naveen Fruit and Vegetable market at Dubagga in Lucknow. Amongst others, also present at the meeting were Chief Secretary Mr. Javed Usmani, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Mr. Rakesh Garg, Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC) Mr. Alok Ranjan, Director of the Mandi Parishad Mr. Rajiv Agarwal and other officials.