'Success of project is in helping the beneficiaries'

Suvarna Bhoomi will become successful only if it serves the worthy beneficiaries well financially, said legislator N H Shivashankar Reddy.

He spoke after inaugurating on Monday the process to pick beneficiaries for the project through lots. The programme was organised at the Government Pre-university College in town.

He added that Suvarna Bhoomi is an excellent project planned to help agriculturists and farmers should utilise it well. “Farmers should avoid misusing the funds provided for unnecessary purposes,” Reddy advised.

The Department of Agriculture has the largest number of applicants for the project, he said and added that this has forced the authorities to resort to lots picking to choose beneficiaries.

District Joint Agricultural Director A C Nataraj, District Women and Child Welfare Department officer Gopal, Zilla Panchayat member Narasimhamurthy and Keshava Reddy, Taluk Panchayat chief executive officer Gopal, president Srinivasappa, vice-president Chethana, Department of Agriculture officer Anuroopa, Women and Child Welfare officer Usha and others were present.

In Gudibande

Legislator N Sampangi advised farmers in the taluk to utilise the financial benefits provided by the Suvarna Bhoomi project well.

He spoke after inaugurating the process of picking beneficiaries of the project through lots, organised on Monday at the Government Pre-university College grounds. The function was organised jointly by the departments of agriculture, sericulture and horticulture along with the taluk administration Sampangi said the pre-monsoon showers in the taluk are an indication to begin agricultural work.

‘Make best use’

“The government is bringing into effect the Suvarna Bhoomi project to help farmers undertake sowing of seeds and the beneficiaries should make the most of the facility,” Sampangi added.

“The government hopes to reach the advantages of the system to all agriculture-based families. The lots system is being used to prevent injustice in picking the beneficiaries,” he explained.

The benefits available through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme of the Central Government can also be used to undertake any kind of agricultural work the farmers wish to, the legislator assured.

New plan

Sampangi added that in the backdrop that Chikkaballapur district is deprived of­ proper irrigation facilities, a mega-plan is being drawn up for rejuvenation of water tanks and ensuring supply of water through other sources and means.

Taluk Agriculturists’ Society president Gajananya Nagaraj, who presided over the programme, advised the selected beneficiaries to purchase the seeds mentioned in their applications in time and utilise them well.

Taluk Department of Agriculture assistant director Narasaraju said all applicants under the horticulture and sericulture departments would get the Suvarna Bhoomi facilities, since the number of applicants is lesser than the minimum number mentioned.

Most applications

“The Department of Agriculture has the maximum number of applicants and this has forced us to use the lots system to pick the beneficiaries for the project,” Narasaraju explained.

Taluk Panchayat president K Manjula, vice-president K A Narayanaswamy, Town Panchayat president Zabin Taj Chand Pasha, vice-president Ismail Azadbabu, Taluk Panchayat chief executive officer Anjinappa, Social Welfare Officer Rajashekhar and Revenue Officer Subbukrishna were among those who attended.