Union Minister of Agriculture, Shivraj Singh Chouhan visited Punjab today and interacted with farmers and MGNREGA workers in Moga and Jalandhar. In village Ransinh Kalan in Moga he appreciated the farmers for not burning stubble for the last six years here. He said he will showcase this achievement of the village to the country for others to follow its example.

 

Later, speaking to the media in Jalandhar, Mr Chouhan said that the Centre will give a house to every eligible poor person who has a Kuchha house in Punjab. He said he has asked the state government to provide details about such people. He said the Centre has also changed some norms to provide houses to the poor.  

 

The Agriculture Minister said that the Centre has released a sum of 6000 crore rupees under MGNREGA earlier and 542 crore rupees this year for giving work to MGNREGA workers and has increased their working days from 100 to 150 days annually as well. However, he said he has been told by some workers that many people have bogus job cards. 

 

Later, he also interacted with farmers at Central Potato Research Institute at Badshahpur in Jalandhar.