Latest news with #AgricultureDepartment
Hans India
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
My priority is sustainable farming, rural prosperity: Maharashtra's new agriculture minister
Pune: Newly appointed Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharane, in his first reaction on Friday, said as the farmer's son, he will make every effort for the agriculture development and bring prosperity in farmers' lives. Bharane, who was minister of state during the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi government, was elevated to the cabinet rank in the Devendra Fadnavis-led council of ministers, and was holding departments of sports, youth welfare, minority affairs and Auqaf. Bharane is likely to take charge as the agriculture minister early next week. Bharane, in his post on X, said, 'Born and raised in a farmer's family, I have experienced every aspect of farming. Therefore, I deeply understand the pain, difficulties, and expectations of farmers. Now, through the responsibility of this ministerial position, I have been given the opportunity to work for their justice, rights, and progress. The honour of farmers, sustainable agriculture, and rural prosperity will be my primary goals. I will sincerely strive to ensure that the voice of farmers reaches every policy of the government.' He further stated, 'I am grateful for the honour bestowed upon a farmer's son with the position of Agriculture Minister. I sincerely thank Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister and my leader Ajitdada Pawar and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, NCP working president Praful Patel and state party president Sunil Tatkare for entrusting me with the responsibility of the state's Agriculture Minister.' Minister Bharane told reporters that he will focus on how the state's farmers will get justice through the Agriculture Department and how innovative agricultural initiatives will be implemented for the benefit of the farmers. On the much-awaited government's decision on crop loan waiver, Minister Bharane said that he has not yet taken charge of this department. He clarified that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Dy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar will take the right decision regarding the loan waiver. 'I belong to a farmer's family, and the people of Baramati (Ajitdada) have given me a lot. The Pawar family has always loved me a lot. Now I will try to make Indapur (his Assembly constituency) like Baramati,' said Bharane. He added that he would make more efforts to expedite the development of Indapur and transform it on the lines of Baramati (which is the bastion of Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar and known for its overall development). However, NCP insiders said that Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharane will have to pursue with the CM and two Dy CMs for announcing the crop loan waiver, which was promised by the Mahayuti ahead of the state Assembly elections. This is necessary as the opposition and various farmers' organisations have been criticising the government for dilly-dallying on this issue, as the arrears towards the agricultural loans to district cooperative central banks, regional rural banks and public sector banks have increased to over Rs 37,000 crore. Farmers have stopped repayment of loans, expecting an early crop loan waiver. In addition, Minister Bharane will have to pay attention to curbing farmers' suicides by putting in place a clear roadmap. Further, the minister will have to activate the agriculture department machinery for the effective implementation of the crop insurance scheme, which will benefit the farmers and not the insurance companies. A senior NCP functionary said the new agriculture minister will also have to give more time to address issues relating to the mismatch between the rising cost of production and guaranteed price for agricultural produce, facilitate market access to farmers and early payment of financial aid to farmers hit by natural calamities.
Hans India
7 hours ago
- Business
- Hans India
2.07L farmers to be covered in Nandyal dist
Nandyal: The State government will officially launch the 'Annadata Sukhibhava' scheme on August 2, aimed at enhancing the welfare of farmers across the State. District Collector G Rajakumari made the announcement after participating in a video conference convened by Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu from the Amaravati Secretariat on Thursday. The Chief Minister reviewed the preparations for the scheme's rollout with district collectors across the State. Speaking from the video-conference hall at the Nandyal Collectorate, Collector G Rajakumari stated that nearly 2.07 lakh farmers in Nandyal district would benefit under the scheme. Each eligible farmer will receive Rs 7,000, comprising Rs 5,000 from the State government under Annadata Sukhibhava and Rs 2,000 from the Central government under the PM-KISAN scheme. She directed the Agriculture Department to ensure smooth implementation and take proactive steps to avoid any grievances from beneficiaries. The Collector stressed the importance of completing the eKYC process, instructing officials to immediately address pending cases in all mandals. She urged farmers to complete eKYC at the earliest to avoid delays in receiving benefits. Additionally, she reminded all farmers cultivating paddy to pay their crop insurance premiums before August 15 through their nearest Rythu Seva Kendras to ensure coverage for the ongoing season.
The Print
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Print
India's enemies will be eliminated by Bundelkhand's Defence Corridor: Adityanath
He said that Lord Ram had taken a pledge from this soil to free the Earth from demons and the Defence Corridor in Bundelkhand is being developed in this spirit. Addressing a public gathering in Rajapur during his visit to Chitrakoot, Adityanath said, 'I always said that if Pakistan dared to act aggressively, the tanks built in Bundelkhand would deliver such a blow that it would be forced to rub its nose on the ground.' 'And this time, the BrahMos missile broke Pakistan's back in such a way that it was left shouting for help globally, but no one came forward,' he added. Chitrakoot (UP), Jul 31 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said the BrahMos missile 'broke Pakistan's back', leaving it to 'cry before the world' while no one came to its aid. 'The task of eliminating India's enemies will be carried out by Bundelkhand's Defence Corridor, with the youth forming a strong wall in the nation's security,' the chief minister said. During his visit to Rajapur on the occasion of Goswami Tulsidas's birth anniversary, Adityanath highlighted the region's cultural and spiritual significance. He said Chitrakoot is set to emerge as a hub of faith, security and self-reliance. The chief minister offered prayers at Tulsi Janmkutir and viewed the handwritten manuscript of the Shri Ramcharitmanas at Manas Mandir. He also attended the Tulsi Sahitya Sammelan at Tulsi Resort, where he met spiritual leaders Murari Bapu and Jagadguru Rambhadracharya. In his address to seers, he reiterated Chitrakoot's proud spiritual legacy and said the area would become a model of religious devotion, safety and self-reliance. Later, at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Ganiwan, Adityanath unveiled a statue of Goswami Tulsidas and planted Harishankari saplings to promote environmental awareness. He also visited exhibitions by the Agriculture Department and interacted with children at the Parmanand Ashram Paddhati Vidyalaya, distributing chocolates and posing for photographs. During his address to the public gathering he reminded them that Lord Ram had spent more than 11 years in Chitrakoot and noted that it had been the 'karmabhoomi' of revered figures like Goswami Tulsidas, Maharishi Valmiki and social reformer Nanaji Deshmukh. Adityanath also outlined ongoing government initiatives, including development of the Ram Van Gaman Marg, the Bundelkhand Expressway, the Defence Corridor and integrated tourism infrastructure in Chitrakoot. He announced a proposed riverfront along the Yamuna to boost tourism and local employment. He said the region had seen a significant increase in crop production — particularly pulses, oilseeds and maize — and assured continued support for farmers through soil testing and crop insurance. The chief minister said Chitrakoot today is a place free from fear and rich in spiritual energy. He highlighted ongoing development of pilgrimage and educational sites such as Gramodaya University, Ashram Paddhati Vidyalaya, Valmiki Ashram, and Kamadgiri. Earlier in the day, Adityanath paid tributes to Goswami Tulsidas on his 500th birth anniversary, praising his unwavering devotion to Lord Ram amid the political complexities of his time. 'Five hundred years ago, when this village might have been grappling with a lack of resources and hardships, a divine soul was born and, in his childhood, dedicated himself to the feet of Prabhu Shri Ram,' he said. Drawing a contrast with the Mughal era, he said that while the court of Emperor Akbar attracted those seeking power, Tulsidas chose not to serve any courtier but dedicated himself solely to spiritual devotion. 'Tulsidas emerged as a wonderful confluence of devotion, power, and awakening public consciousness choosing the path of defiance not through the sword, but through Ramlila and Ramcharitmanas,' he said according to a statement. He further remarked, 'Akbar presented a soft face of his rule, but the cruelty behind it is still visible to us today. The tradition of saints at that time firmly resisted it.' Recalling his visit to Mauritius, Adityanath said that during the era of slavery, when Indians were taken there as labourers, the Ramcharitmanas was their only solace. 'They were uneducated but preserved their culture through the Manas. Today, their descendants are heads of state and Ramcharitmanas is still worshipped in their homes,' he said. Criticising efforts to malign seers, Adityanath said those who try to make saints controversial are themselves surrounded by controversies. He concluded that while such people would continue to create obstacles, there must be a collective effort to protect Sanatan Dharma and preserve India's rich heritage, without being deterred by such attempts. PTI CDN NAV OZ OZ This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
E&E News
9 hours ago
- Business
- E&E News
Tracker shows Interior, DOE staff exodus
Energy and environmental agencies have seen steep staff reductions so far under the Trump administration, according to a nonprofit's new tracker. Across the government, about 150,000 civil servants have left the workforce since this administration took office, according to the tracker launched by the Partnership for Public Service. Several agencies with energy and environmental portfolios are on the tracker's list of 10 agencies that have seen the biggest workforce reductions so far in President Donald Trump's second term. The Agriculture Department ranks No. 2, having lost 21,600 employees this year. The Treasury Department tops the list of workforce reductions. Advertisement The Interior Department ranks sixth on the list with 6,250 employee departures; the Energy Department comes in next at No. 7 after 4,972 civil servants left their jobs.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
154,000 federal workers who took DOGE buyouts are being paid to go fishing, watch Dungeons and Dragons streams and hunt for new jobs
The government is paying more than 154,000 federal employees not to work after they accepted the deferred resignation offer — and they're spending their paid leave job hunting, doing yoga, and watching YouTube, according to a report. The figure, reported by the Washington Post, accounts for the tens of thousands of federal workers who accepted the government's offer as of June that allowed employees to 'retain all pay and benefits' through September 30 and voluntarily leave their jobs. The offer, originally sent out by the Office of Personnel Management in January, came after President Donald Trump mandated in-person work requirements for the federal workforce, the size of which the Department of Government Efficiency aimed to significantly shrink. The move has led to a rapid reduction in federal workers, two officials at the Office of Personnel Management told the Post, with the resignations accounting for nearly seven percent of the government's civilian workforce. The Independent has reached out to the OPM and White House for comment. 'Ultimately, the deferred resignation program was not only legal, it provided over 150,000 civil servants a dignified and generous departure from the federal government,' the agency spokesperson told the Post. 'It also delivered incredible relief to the American taxpayer. No previous administration has gotten even close to saving American taxpayers this amount of money in such a short amount of time.' Although DOGE set out to eliminate 'waste' in the federal government, some critics have argued that the buyouts were a waste of taxpayer dollars. Those who took the offer, meanwhile, have been spending the break as they please. An Agriculture Department employee, who's been on paid leave since April, told the Post that he's spent his free time watching comedians play a Dungeons and Dragons game, improv, and crafters on YouTube. He applied to more than 130 jobs before landing one at an animal health company that offered him a salary much greater than the $61,000 salary from the government, he said. For six weeks, his federal job and new job would overlap, meaning he'd be temporarily raking in cash from two salaries. His new role would earn him enough that his wife would be able to quit her job, he told the outlet. In the meantime, he goes fishing and dines out, all on the government's dime. He recalled telling his wife: 'As much as I don't want to admit it, this ended up being a blessing in disguise.' Brian Griffin, a former marketing specialist at the Agriculture Department making $132,000, had been planning to retire in December when he was given the deferred resignation offer. He's been on leave since May. 'When they are offering me full pay and benefits from May through September, you have to be kind of silly to say no to that,' Griffin told the Post. One worker has found the new reality a bit more difficult. An Education Department employee, who makes $130,000, said she was put on administrative leave — a move that has left her reeling. 'My work is my whole identity,' said the employee, speaking on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation. 'I'm also sensitive to the fact that the American public would say, 'What are you crying about? You're getting paid.'' The government has so far paid her $65,000 not to work, while she has also accrued three weeks of vacation time since being put on leave. Some of her free time is dedicated to swimming and doing yoga but for most of it, she's frustrated. 'I will sometimes wake up and say, 'Why do I get out of bed today?'' she told the outlet. Aside from the emotional effects the cuts had on many government employees, the American taxpayer could also be affected by DOGE's workforce reductions. An analysis by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington last week, which looked at a few of the agencies impacted, found that DOGE's workforce slashes could result in a loss of over $10 billion in U.S.-based economic activity and the closure of programs that have put over $26 billion in funds back into the pockets of taxpayers. A minority staff report from the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Thursday also revealed that DOGE generated an estimated $21 billion in waste on mass layoffs and terminations. That figure included $14.8 billion for the deferred resignation program. 'This report is a searing indictment of DOGE's false claims. At the very same time that the Trump Administration is cutting health care, nutrition assistance, and emergency services in the name of 'efficiency' and 'savings,' they have enabled DOGE's reckless waste of at least $21.7 billion dollars,' Blumenthal, the subcommittee's ranking member, said in a statement to the Post. 'As my PSI investigation has shown, DOGE was clearly never about efficiency or saving the American taxpayer money.'
