CHIEF MINISTER SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN DOLS OUT SOPS BEFORE BY-POLLS

Team Absolute|Bhopal Ahead of the crucial byelections to 27 constituencies Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has made a slew of announcements aimed at wooing farmers and the poor, among others. The dates for the by-polls are yet to be announced, but they are extremely crucial for the longevity of the fivemonth- old BJP government. The largesse will be doled out on different days from 12-25 September. These dates will coincide with celebrations to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday, which falls on 17 September, the CM said. Beginning 16 September, they will continue until 25 September. Chouhan named the celebration as ‘Garib Kalyan Pakhwada’ (Welfare of Poor Fortnight). The CM, who often calls Modi ‘bhagwan ka vardan’ (boon from God), said the initiatives taken by the PM for the poor, farmers and women have been unprecedented. The sops announced by Chouhan doled out from Saturday when 1.75 lakh beneficiaries of the PM Awas Yojana were given the keys to their new homes. PM Modi virtually addressed a ‘Gruhapravesam’ event the same day.On 16 September, as many as 37 lakh poor, who were not eligible for ration so far, will start getting ration, Chouhan added. The same day, nearly 20 lakh farmers, whose crops were damaged last year, will get Rs 4,600 crore as crop insurance claims.On 23 September, the state government will deposit Rs 800 crore in cooperative banks to enable them to give loan at zero per cent interest to farmers. On the same day, beneficiaries of PM Kisan Yojana will get Kisan Credit Cards. The government will also give Rs 150 crore to selfhelp groups, Rs 100 crore towards crop insurance, horticulture crops, and distribute money to students to buy laptops and give forest pattas (land) to the eligible tribals.