Haryana raises labourers' wages

The wages of labourers (palledars) working in mandis of the state has been increased by 50 paisa per bag, Haryana Agriculture Minister O P Dhankar today said.
Dhankar announced the move at a function at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University in Hisar today, an official release said.
The BJP government would protect the interests of farmers on priority basis, and procure every grain of wheat produced by the farmers, he said.
"Almost all products produced by farmers are used for eating purposes but their value is always less. Hence, it is essential to give grants and subsidies in the agriculture sector," Dhankar said.

Referring to procurement, he said that wheat was being procured at the Minimum Support Price of Rs 1,450 per quintal. No deduction would be made on MSP even if the grain of wheat has been shrivelled, broken, or decoloured, he said.
Meanwhile, Haryana Food and Supplies Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said about ten lakh metric tonnes of wheat has been purchased so far at the MSP.
Sharma said neither farmers nor 'Aarthiyas' would be allowed to bear financial loss.
On the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Central government has relaxed the compensation norms. Now crop damaged to the extent of 33 per cent would be eligible for compensation instead of earlier norm of 50 per cent.