DW BUREAU / Shimla

Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday said that a digital system for the sale and purchase of milk from the farmers would be put in place by March next year.

Sukhu inaugurated a milk-processing plant with a capacity of 50,000 litres per day. It was built at a cost of Rs 25.67 crore in the Duttnagar area of Rampur.

Addressing the people who attended the event, he said that with the digital system in place, the farmers would receive information about the quality of the milk and its price through SMS.

Under this system, real time data of milk purchase should be available and farmers can receive money directly in their bank accounts.

He said that the first point of the budget of state government was to strengthen the rural economy so that the income of the farmer families improves and they could live a good life. He said that the 'Vyavashta Parivartan' of the present state government envisages that the people can live a better life in their villages. Improvements are being made in all the government departments so that people could get better facilities. He said, "I have never worked for political gain. I come from an ordinary family and my mother also does farming in the village. No farmer came to me with the demand to increase the price of milk, but I increased the rate of milk by Rs. 13-15 to strengthen the economy of the people of the village."

The Chief Minister said that the state government has increased the MNREGA wages by a historic Rs. 60 to Rs. 300. Along with this, maize produced through natural farming is being purchased at the rate of Rs. 30 and wheat at the rate of Rs. 40 per kg.

He said that the purchase of maize has started and the purchase of wheat would also be started from the next season. He said that the people of the village also have rights over the state's wealth, for which the state government is strengthening the rural economy.

Sukhu said that the state government will not be distracted by the propaganda of the opposition and will continue to work for the betterment of the people of the state. He said that the previous Jai Ram Thakur government opened educational institutions and health institutions without budget and adequate staff. The previous BJP government distributed freebies worth Rs. 5000 crore for electoral gains.

He said that the state government is going to recruit 900 veterinary pharmacists in the Animal Husbandry Department, so that animal breeders could get better facilities at their doorsteps. Due to the actions of the double-engine government, Himachal Pradesh lagged behind in the country in providing quality facilities.

The Chief Minister said that the state government is overcoming every challenge with the blessings of Gods, Goddesses and the public. Successfully facing the political challenge, the number of MLAs of the Congress Party has again increased to 40. He said that the present state government faced the disaster like a war. Without the help of the central government, the state government rehabilitated 23 thousand disaster-affected families and gave a special relief package of Rs. 4500 crore.

He said that the responsibility of restoring the roads was given to Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh, and the government ensured that the produce of farmers and apple orchardists reached the markets, so that they do not have to suffer financial loss. He said that the state government has also decided to include the disaster-affected people of Samej and Bagi Bridge in the special relief package on the pattern of relief package given last year.

(editor@dailyworld.in)