Suvarna Bhoomi helps only BJP workers, says Datta

Addressing a pressmeet here on Friday, Datta said, under the project, it has been proposed to spend Rs 1,000 crore to revitalise land of 10 lakh marginal farmers.

Citing staff shortage in Agriculture department, the government has decided to appoint farmers’ facilitators - one each for 300 farmers - to implement the scheme. All such facilitators are BJP workers and thus the farmers will be at their mercy. The facilitators will be paid travelling allowance in addition to honorarium. They are vested with the authority to monitor the application of funds.

On their report, the government can block assistance for three years. “The scheme thus puts the farmers at the mercy of BJP workers,” Datta alleged.

He said it has been proposed to appoint as many as 3,500 facilitators and it costs Rs 20 crore to meet their expenses. He sought the chief minister to clarify whether the scheme was meant for the benefit of farmers or BJP workers.

Datta alleged that the government had been trying to change the objective of welfare schemes after realising that its coffers are empty.

Referring to the new guideline on Bhagyalakshmi Scheme, Datta said the scheme was introduced to check female foeticide and it was not appropriate to restrict the scheme to Below Poverty Line families only. He said the benefit of the scheme should be extended to all sections of society.