Shillong, Aug.28: ‘Quit India Movement’ was an important milestone in the Indian freedom struggle. Under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, people across India, in every village, city transcending all barriers came together with a common Mission- to uproot Imperialism. Five years after the Quit India movement, India attained freedom on 15th August 1947. As the Nation observed the 75th Anniversary of the Quit India Movement this year, five years from now i.e. in August 2022 we will complete 75 years as an independent nation. This five-year period, from 2017 to 2022 gives us a unique opportunity of ‘Sankalp’ to ‘Siddhi’ towards a ‘New India’.
In this connection, on the 26th August 2017, the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) West Khasi Hills, organised a programme on “Celebration of Sankalp Se Siddhi” or “Determination to Attainment” New India Movement 2017 – 2022, at Tirot Sing Memorial Hall, Pyndengumiong Mairang. The Chief Guest for the occasion was Shri. Vincent H Pala, Member of Parliament . Also present were Smt. FM Lakiang, SDO (C) Mairang Civil Sub-Division, Shri S Warjri, EAC Nongstoin, Smt. B Nongkhlaw, Sub-Divisional Agriculture Officer, Mairang, Dr. D Pasweth, Senior Scientist and Head, KVK West Khasi Hills, Village Administrators of Mairang, and farmers from all over the Mairang Civil Sub-Division among others.
All who were present including the farmers took the Pledge to build a New India by 2022; an India that is devoid of corruption, is clean, has no poverty, is free of terrorism, and has no distinction on the basis of caste and religion, which was administered by Shri. Vincent H Pala.
Addressing the gathering, Pala emphasised on the need of equipping farmers with good quality seeds, organic fertilisers and irrigation facilities to increase their income. He also urged upon the farmers to insure their crops through The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (Prime Minister’s Crop Insurance Scheme) which was launched by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on 18 February 2016, stating that agriculture is highly susceptible to risks of natural calamities. This scheme, he informed, envisages a uniform premium of only 2 per cent to be paid by farmers for Kharif or monsoon crops, and 1.5 per cent for Rabi crops, which are agricultural crops sown in winter and harvested in spring. The premium for annual commercial and horticultural crops will be 5 per cent. In conclusion, Shri Vincent H Pala called upon the KVKs, ICAR, District Administration, line departments and the farmers to work together to make Sankalp Se Siddhi a success by 2022.
Smt. Y Sohtun, Subject Matter Specialist, Horticulture, Nongshillong, West Khasi Hills elaborated the Sankalp Se siddhi seven point programmes for doubling farmers’ income by 2022. The programme envisages doubling income of farmers by providing better irrigation facilities, ensuring high quality of planting material, enhancing availability of organic inputs, practicing soil test based fertilizer application and minimising post-harvest losses.
In the later part of the day, a Talk on available Livestock Schemes by Utpal Bezbaruah, District Development Manager, NABARD, Nongstoin was held followed by a Farmer – Scientist Interaction.
The website https://newindia.in/ has information and activities pertaining to the ‘Sankalp Se Sidhhi’ movement. Prominently, the site comprises an all-inclusive Pledge, New India Manthan, Citizen Causes, an Online Quiz on the Quit India Movement and a wide-ranging calendar of numerous events being organized as constituents of the ‘achievement through resolve’ movement. This website specifically sprawls through the period beginning 2017 till 2022, for the overall development of the country making stakeholders and beneficiaries as comrades in the progress.
