State Cong panel to lobby for PM funds

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Congress has formed a committee to ensure that the state gets benefits under the Rs 25,000 crore farm sector growth package announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently. Former agriculture minister Govindrao Adik has been made the president of this committee.

Mr Adik, who has also formed Bharatiya Krushak Samaj, a farmers' forum, and the committee members would co-ordinate implementation of various schemes under the package between the centre and the state.

“The idea is to involve party organisation in taking the benefits of this scheme to maximum farmers. Agriculture sector in Maharashtra is in deep crisis and an outlay of the magnitude of Rs 25,000 crore could prove revolutionary in solving some of the problems.

But for this to happen there will have to be a co-ordination between the centre, state, and the party organisation which leads both the governments,” Mr Adik told ET.

The ex-state Congress president said the focus would be on getting benefits of maximum schemes that would be announced under the package.

"The modalities of this package have not yet been announced by the centre. But for a transparent and efficient implementation of all schemes, party organisation would have to get involved not only to provide feedback to the government but also liaison between farmers and the government," Mr Adik said.

Other members on the committee are Balasaheb Vikhe-Patil, former union minister, Kanhaiyalal Gidwani, president of MPCC's forum on essential commodities, has been made the co-ordinator and former MP Subodh Mohite.

Interestingly except Mr Adik, the rest three are former Shiv Sena leaders. Balasaheb Vikhe Patil and Subodh Mohite were ministers in Atal Bihari Vajpayee government while Mr Gidwani was a legislative council member representing the Sena.