Farmers' issue, job creation top Rajasthan govt agenda: Pilot
Jaipur, Dec 25 (PTI) Having announced loan wavier for farmers, the Rajasthan government will soon roll out some other measures to enhance the ecosystem for the farming community and for the youth in need of jobs, Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot said.
He said farmers' issues and job creation for youngsters will dominate the agenda of the new Congress government in the state.
Pilot, after the formation of the Rajasthan Cabinet, said work has begun and the government will start delivering on the promises made in the party's election manifesto.
"We have started working from the very first day by announcing farm loan waiver. Agrarian crisis is on the top of the agenda and very soon, there will be quick and substantive steps by the government to enhance the ecosystem for farming community to make sure that farming becomes a profitable venture," Pilot told PTI.
"We will very soon start job creation on priority basis. These are the two issues which we will be going to be principally focused on because Rajasthan deserves a government that delivers on these two fronts," he said.
The deputy chief minister said the manifesto will be given to the chief secretary, like previous times, and it will be made an official document for the government to function.
"The policy promises the Congress party has made will become a firm official commitment as we move forward," he said.
The loan waiver for farmers was announced by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on December 19, two days after taking oath.
According to a government order, farmers' entire short-term crop loan from cooperative banks and agriculture loans up to Rs two lakh from nationalised and other banks have been waived, putting a burden of Rs 18,000 crore on the exchequer.
Asked about the availability of the financial resources to bear the burden, Pilot said the government was "capable" to face the challenge.
"Resource management is not a big deal if there is a political will. The previous UPA government had waived 72,000 crore of farmers' loan and we can also do it. So, I believe, the government is fully capable and equipped to deal with any challenge," he said.
Pilot, who is also the president of the party's state unit, said the announcement of loan waiver has not only helped farmers but also gave a message to them that the new government is ready to listen and redress their grievances.
Similarly for job creation, Pilot said, the work will begin and a system for continuous job creation and recruitment will be made.
"We have shown our commitment. The first decision was of loan waiver, which will be followed by other measures. Farmers and youths were never the priorities of the previous BJP government," he claimed.
Talking about the cabinet expansion held on Monday, Pilot said it was a balance between youths and experienced leaders and was an "energetic" cabinet.
"Ours is a forward looking, fully charged energetic cabinet in Rajasthan and the government is fully equipped to deal with the challenges and meet the expectations of people," he added.
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Rupee falls 11 paise to 94.27 against US dollar in early trade
Mumbai (PTI): The rupee depreciated 11 paise to 94.27 against US dollar in early trade on Monday driven by persistent dollar demand and a broader shift toward safe-haven assets.
Forex traders said the Indian rupee has hit a rough patch, falling for five consecutive sessions, weighed down by a combination of factors such as the RBI loosening its grip on currency rules and rising oil prices caused by global tensions.
Moreover, investors are becoming cautious again, with foreign institutions pulling money out of the market after a brief period of buying amid rising geopolitical uncertainty.
At the interbank foreign exchange market the rupee opened at 94.25 against the US dollar, then lost some ground and touched 94.27 against the US dollar in initial trade, registering a fall of 11 paise over its previous close. On Friday, the rupee had settled at 94.16 against the American currency.
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Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was down 0.09 per cent at 98.44.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading higher by 1.16 per cent at USD 106.55 per barrel in futures trade.
A mix of softer economic signals and renewed, even if fragile, hopes of diplomacy pulled the dollar lower again, CR Forex Advisors MD Amit Pabari said, adding that for Rupee, on one hand, a softer dollar offers relief. On the other, uncertainty remains the dominant force.
Meanwhile, India’s forex reserves have crossed USD 703 billion as of April 17, reflecting a consistent build-up of buffers.
"For now, the rupee continues to lean toward gradual weakness. Uncertainty remains the dominant force, shaping both global flows and local reactions," Pabari said.
He further noted that any dips are likely to be bought into, with the 92.80–93.20 zone acting as a strong support. On the upside, 93.50 to 94.50 is expected to define the near-term range.
On the domestic equity market front, the 30-share benchmark index Sensex was trading 518.96 points or 0.68 per cent higher at 77,183.17, while the broader Nifty was trading up 131.30 points or 0.55 per cent at 24,029.25.
Foreign Institutional Investors offloaded equities worth Rs 8,827.87 crore on Friday, according to exchange data.
