Amidst Farmers’ Uprising: Shivraj Chouhan’s Agri Ministry Enhances Vital Coordination with States; Experts Vigilantly Oversee Schemes | India News
Amid ongoing farmer protests over demands like a legal guarantee for the minimum support price (MSP), the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, led by Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has moved to improve coordination between the Centre and states. Senior officials at Krishi Bhawan have been appointed as nodal officers for specific states and Union Territories (UTs) to oversee the implementation of central agricultural schemes, according to The Indian Express. The directive was approved by the competent authority on December 31, 2024, and states and UTs have been informed in writing.
This effort follows Chouhan’s direct consultations with state agriculture ministers and farmers since taking office in June last year. Approximately 18 senior officials, including advisers and secretaries, have been assigned to one or two states each to monitor agricultural issues and ensure the smooth execution of schemes. Notably, Additional Secretary Dr. Pramod Kumar Meherda oversees Maharashtra and Haryana, while Maninder Kaur Dwivedi is responsible for Gujarat and Odisha.
Nodal officers are expected to partner with Chouhan during state visits to ensure seamless policy implementation, reinforcing proactive state engagement. Chouhan has engaged in several meetings with agriculture ministers from states such as Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand amid protests primarily from Punjab at the Haryana border since February last year.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) met with two farmer bodies on Monday, but discussions on a joint agitation against the Centre were inconclusive, prompting another meeting scheduled for January 18. As the Union government endeavors to address these issues, the involvement of dedicated nodal officers is anticipated to bolster coordination and enhance the effectiveness of policy enforcement across the regions.
Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/farmers-stir-shivraj-singh-chouhan-states-agri-ministry-schemes-9777694/
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Publish Date: 2025-01-14 10:30:00
