SIR Phase II: EF distribution climbs to over 99 per cent, digitisation at 39.29pc

Mumbai, June 18 (IANS) Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate on Wednesday said the government is set to take concrete steps to formulate a policy on agricultural wages to enhance agricultural productivity and reduce the cost of farming.

The government is promoting agricultural mechanisation through various schemes aimed at reducing manual labour and encouraging the use of unmanned machinery. All suggestions received in the interest of farmers will be considered positively and acted upon, assured the meeting during a meeting with the Maharashtra State Association of Government Agricultural Award-Winning Farmers to discuss various issues related to agriculture.

Minister Kokate stated that the government will form an agricultural advisory committee, which will include these award-winning farmers as members. A comprehensive proposal will be submitted to determine appropriate policies for agricultural work. Reforms will also be made to the crop insurance scheme, and agricultural universities and research centres will be strengthened.

The government continuously supports research into new crops and encourages natural farming to improve soil fertility and crop productivity.

He also added that suggestions regarding state and central government schemes will be seriously considered. The government is committed to implementing effective suggestions for the benefit of farmers.

He said that the steps will be taken to increase crop yield through new technologies and to exempt agricultural processing units from local taxes levied by Gram Panchayats.

Furthermore, the government will ensure that a representative of the association is invited to future government award distribution ceremonies and is given a seat on the dais.

Meanwhile, the Association president, Prakash Patil, said that the agriculture minister held a meeting with award-winning farmers at the Mantralaya and discussed 16 major issues related to farming in the state. The minister listened to the concerns of all farmers present and instructed the relevant officials to take appropriate action.

–IANS

sj/dan

New Delhi, Jan 4 (IANS) Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor, currently on a hunger strike in support of 70th Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) preliminary examination aspirants protesting against alleged irregularities in the conduct of the exams, has issued a sharp critique of political leaders and challenged them to step out of their comfort zones and lead the movement on the ground.

Addressing the media during his hunger strike, Kishor remarked, “All these leaders, whether it is Tejashwi Yadav, Rahul Gandhi, or others, who claim to speak for students and want to be their voice, should come here, join the protest, and lead from the front. We are ready to follow them. We have no problem stepping back, but someone needs to step forward. Rahul Gandhi should come here and lead this movement.”

“But he is currently on vacation for New Year’s celebrations. He’ll have to cut short his holiday and come. When was the last time he visited Bihar? Probably during elections to ask for votes. When will he come next? During the next elections to ask for votes again. If you don’t show up in Bihar, how will you lead?” he added.

Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi’s absence, Kishor sarcastically added, “Should the students here send him an invitation to Vietnam? This movement won’t succeed with just a post.”

“If Tejashwi Yadav wants to lead, he must step out of his bungalow and stand with us. We are ready to follow him too. But leadership requires stepping out. We are right here, standing before you, risking our lives for this cause,” he said.

Kishor highlighted the sacrifices of those protesting in harsh winter conditions, saying, “We have left behind our homes, families, food, and comfort to sit under the open sky in this cold. Why? For the students of Bihar. It’s sad that some people fail to understand the urgency of this issue. They dismiss youth movements as insignificant.”

He criticised the police crackdown on protesters, stating, “In this biting cold, Bihar’s students were doused with cold water and beaten with batons. The police chased down boys and girls mercilessly. Meanwhile, over 50 lakh people in Bihar are struggling on roads, in factories, and in fields just to make ends meet. If we want to change this system, someone must rise above personal comfort, whether it’s the cold or the heat. That’s why we’re here.”

Kishor concluded with a call to action, emphasising the need for immediate leadership: “This fight is not just for today but for the future of Bihar’s youth. The young must rise and take charge. We are ready to support anyone who steps up.”

Kishor has been on a hunger strike at the Gandhi Maidan in Patna.

His protest is aimed at demanding the cancellation of the 70th Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) preliminary examination following allegations of irregularities and a paper leak.

–IANS

rs/rad

New Delhi, Aug 21 (IANS) The activities of a terror organisation that is being closely watched are those of the Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT). India’s Intelligence agencies have flagged the activities of this outfit since the regime change in Bangladesh.

The agencies have learnt that the outfit is having a free run thanks to the new regime in Bangladesh. Following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, the country erupted into chaos.

Several changes took place overnight. The ban on the Jamaat-e-Islami was lifted, and radical elements were given a free hand, among others. However, the most dangerous development was when hundreds of terrorists, including those of the ABT, were released.

The ABT, which is a puppet of the ISI, has been told to focus just on West Bengal and Assam. A module was set up where scorers of Bangladeshis and Rohingya Muslims are being trained. These are being trained to carry out specific attacks in the above-mentioned states.

The Indian security agencies are on very high alert since the chaos broke out in Bangladesh. There have been many reports that infiltrations by migrants would go up tenfold, as there is a state of lawlessness in Bangladesh. The security forces have managed to prevent scores of people who have been trying to infiltrate India.

The ABT, on the other hand, is planning to train over 100 persons and then infiltrate in smaller numbers into India.

This time around, the modus operandi of the terror groups is slightly different. Each of these groups, be it the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh or Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami, and the ABT, are working under one umbrella. Their areas of operation have been segregated. While the ABT would operate in Assam and West Bengal, the HuJI and JMB would focus on the other northeastern states.

The entire focus of these terror groups is to disrupt peace and tranquillity in the northeastern states. They want to ensure that clashes erupt, terror strikes and development comes to a halt.

The fact that the activities of the ABT are on the rise can be seen from recent arrests. In the last six months, arrests have taken place in both Assam’s Kokrajhar and West Bengal’s Murshidabad district.

Investigations had found that sleeper cells were also in operation, and many of these persons were waiting for the infiltrations to take place before trying to carry out a terror strike. The agencies found that the first plan was to strike at the Siliguri Corridor or the Chicken Neck. An attack here would have had a huge impact, as it is the gateway to the northeastern states.

Among those terrorists of the ABT who have been released by the Muhammad Yunus government are Al Amin, Harun-ur-Rashid, Iqbal Hossain and Jikrullah. These are highly dangerous terrorists, and the Yunus government has no explanation as to why they were released.

However, the most brazen among these was the release of Mufti Jashimuddin Rahman, the chief of the ABT. He was released on the pretext that the court had no objection to the same. The fact is that four major cases are pending against him.

The Indian agencies, however, say that all this is taking place at the insistence of the ISI-controlled Jamaat.

–IANS

vicky/dan