Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Governor Om Prakash Kohli on Tuesday said the State government has decided to launch a ‘Digital Payment Mission’ to promote cashless transactions in the state. In his customary address to the State Legislative Assembly that commenced on Tuesday, the Governor said, “In order to encourage cashless payments, my government has decided to run ‘Digital Payment Mission’ in the state. All payments are being made through cashless mode and even it is receiving 70 per cent revenue via the same medium.”
The state budget would be presented in the Assembly on March 1. Kohli said the government has also decided to give relaxation to the traders in VAT for purchasing POS machines and also in stamp duties for inking merchant agreement. He also said that the government has decided to serve food to the poorest of the poor for Rs 5 under the Deendayal Thali Yojana in selected urban areas.
Later on the scheme, under which good quality food is going to be served, will be extended to urban areas of the entire state, he said. The Asian Development Bank has sanctioned US dollar 500 million for the development of 1,529-km of main roads in the districts of MP, he said while highlighting the state’s achievements in all sectors. In his address, Kohli claimed that the state government has been successful in improving the financial condition of citizens. On the first day of the budget session, he quoted the 2015-16 GSDP to have increased by 16.62 per cent. Governor also said that efforts of the state government to make agriculture a profitable venture has yielded results.
“For the past four years, annual growth of the farm sector has been above 20 per cent which is the highest in the country,” he said. “The state ranks first in the country in production of oilseeds, lentils, gram, soybeans, garlic and tomatoes. Farmers’ hardwork and state government’s farmer welfare policies have resulted in the state getting the Krishi Karman Award for four years.” Governor Kohli added that Madhya Pradesh is the first state to have made a road-map based on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream of doubling the income of farmers. The state planned and has started implementation of the strategy.
“This year Kharif crop yield has been 236 lakh tonne. This is the highest Kharif production in the history of the state. Rabi sowing has been on 117 lakh hectare, again the highest in the state do far. Wheat production is expected to be two crore tonne. My government will organise Krishi Utsav again this year and doubling farmers’ income will be made into a peoples’ movement,” he said.
Governor said that compensations have been distributed to farmers whose crops suffered damages due to natural calamities. “Under the National Crop Insurance Scheme, a huge amount of Rs 4416 crore has been paid to 20.47 lakh farmers. During the past one year, a sum of Rs 18444 crore has been paid to farmers by the state government under different welfare schemes,” the Governor said.