Siddaramaiah requests PM to implement price deficiency payment scheme for red chillies in Karnataka
Bengaluru (PTI): Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan requesting for implementation of price deficiency payment scheme under Market Intervention Scheme for red chillies in Karnataka.
In the letter, he expressed deep concern for the lakhs of red chilli farmers in Karnataka, particularly in the Kalyana Karnataka region, who are facing an "unprecedented crisis" due to the drastic fall in market prices.
The Chief Minister noted that the Government of India has approved the Price Deficiency Payment (PDP) scheme under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) for Red Chillies (Guntur Variety) in Andhra Pradesh, fixing the Minimum Intervention Price (MIP) at Rs 11,781 per quintal with coverage for up to 25 percent of production.
"While this is a welcome step, the distress faced by Karnataka's red chilli farmers remains unaddressed," he stated in the letter dated March 10.
Siddaramaiah highlighted that in Karnataka, the cost of production for Guntur variety of red chillies (Rain fed) has been assessed at Rs 12,675 per quintal by the Karnataka Agricultural Price Commission.
"However, farmers are forced to sell their produce at distress prices as low as Rs 8,300 per quintal in markets like Sindhanur. This not only results in massive financial losses but also threatens their very survival," he said.
The Chief Minister emphasised that the Kalyana Karnataka region, one of the most backward and drought-prone areas in the country, is home to thousands of small and marginal farmers dependent on red chilli cultivation.
"The continued neglect of their plight will only deepen the economic distress and push many farmers into a debt crisis. It is therefore imperative that the Union Government extends the Price Deficiency Payment scheme under the Market Intervention Scheme to Karnataka, ensuring parity with Andhra Pradesh," he said.
In addition, Siddaramaiah strongly urged certain modification to the existing scheme to better serve farmers.
The CM urged the Centre to increase MIP to Rs 13,500 per quintal.
"The current MIP of Rs 11,781 per quintal is inadequate considering the rising input costs and the significantly higher cost of production in Karnataka," he said.
"Expand coverage to at least 75 percent of production. Restricting the coverage to just 25 percent of production will leave a large number of farmers unprotected. A minimum of 75 percent coverage is necessary to provide meaningful relief," he said.
Siddaramaiah urged the Union Government to bear the full burden of the price deficiency payment.
According to him, as per the existing scheme, the financial burden is shared between the Centre and State in a 50:50 ratio. The prices of red chillies are largely dependent on the Union Government's domestic and export policies which directly influence market stability and farmer earnings.
"Therefore, we request the Union Government to bear the full amount of the price deficiency payment to ensure fair compensation for farmers," he said.
Siddaramaiah said the red chilli farmers of Karnataka deserve the same level of support that their counterparts in Andhra Pradesh are receiving.
"A fair and just intervention by the Union Government at this crucial moment will not only provide immediate relief but will also reaffirm the Centre's commitment to the welfare of farmers across the country, irrespective of the state they belong to," he added.
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Fired from family business, nephew breaks into uncle's shops in Delhi; arrested
New Delhi (PTI): Delhi Police has arrested a 22-year-old man who allegedly stole cash, a laptop and a mobile phone from his uncle's shop in Dwarka to take revenge after he was fired from the family business, officials said on Wednesday.
Piyush Tulswani, the accused, completed his Class 11 from Rajasthan's Pilani, after which he came back to live with his family, a senior police officer said.
His father, Kishan Tulswani, used to work as a sales manager at his uncle Jeetu's confectionery shops. After the death of his father, Piyush took up his position, the officer said.
Soon, Piyush started embezzling money from the shops, and was fired after Jeetu took note of the act, police said.
His mother also reprimanded him for embezzling money, after which Piyush left home and started living with his friend, the officer said.
Piyush hatched a plot to steal money from his uncle’s shops, which he knew well. Acting on his plan, he took his brother's scooter and broke open each shop, stealing cash, a laptop and a mobile phone.
On January 31, Jeetu reported the matter to police, accusing Piyush of committing burglaries at his shops located in Sector-18, Sector-11, Sector-12 and Sector-4, Dwarka, the officer said.
Jeetu also provided CCTV camera footage from the shops, in which Piyush could be seen breaking them open, he said.
Tracing his mobile phone locations to Safdarjang, Hauz Khas, Rajapuri and Dabri, police conducted several raids.
“He later switched off his phone to restrict access to his location,” the officer said.
On February 13, police received information that Piyush would come to the fruit mandi in Dabri around 9.30 am. Accordingly, a trap was laid, leading to the arrest of the accused, he said.
Initially, he did not confess to the crime, but when police showed him the CCTV clips, he admitted to committing the burglaries, the officer said.
