13-05-21 Daily-Punjab-PPSC Current Affairs

The Centre today said the switchover to the direct benefit transfer (DBT) of the MSP in Punjab has been beyond expectations, crediting the smooth change to state and Central governments and their procurement agencies. Food Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey said of the total DBT of Rs 49,965 crore transferred directly into the accounts of farmers across the country for procurement of wheat this rabi Marketing season, Rs 21,588 has gone to those in Punjab and about Rs 11,784 crore to Haryana.

They (arhtiyas) may be having arrangements withfarmers but what the government is paying to farmers is all going into their accounts.

According to the government data, as of May 9 Punjab procured 128.66 LMT and Haryana 80.76 LMT wheat. So far around 337.95 LMT has been procured, benefitting 34.07 lakh farmers against 28.15 lakh on the same date last year across the country. Haryana and Punjab switched from indirect payment of MSP to DBT after the Centre refused to give them any further concessions.

The Railways has delivered nearly 14,500 tonnes of liquid medical Oxygen in over 884tankerstovarious statessince it started its operation, the national transporter said.

So far, 224 ‘Oxygen Express’trainshave completed their journey and brought relief to various states, while eight others, loaded with over 563 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen (LMO) in 35 tankers, are currently on their way.

Relief by ‘Oxygen Express’ trains has reached 13 states — Uttarakhand, Karnataka,Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Nadu,Haryana, Telangana, Punjab, Kerala, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.