PM Surya Ghar Yojana: with central subsidy and a concessional loan at 7%, consumers can start saving money immediately.

Agartala, Dec 29, 2024, By Our Correspondent

New Delhi/Agartala: December 29: Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and New & Renewable Energy, Shri Pralhad Joshi visited Agartala from 28th to 29th December 2024 to attend multiple programs. His visit to Agartala has been a fruitful one.

During his visit to the state, the Minister visited the Food Corporation of India (FCI) office and the state godown on 28th December, where he took stock of the current situation, particularly in terms of food grain storage and distribution.

Later, he had a meeting with Chief Minister Shri Dr. Manik Saha and other officials to review the performance and implementation of key central schemes in Tripura.

Union Minister Shri Joshi also carried out a detailed review of the FCI, Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC), and the implementation of MNRE schemes, like Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and PM KUSUM.

In these meetings, the discussions focused on addressing challenges and identifying solutions to enhance the implementation of these crucial programs in the state.

In the meeting, Union Minister Shri Joshi has accorded approval in principle to the state government’s proposal to set up a regional office of FCI at Agartala. It was resolved that for this upcoming FCI regional office, State govt shall identify land for this purpose.

Today, on 29th morning Union Minister Shri Joshi paid a divine Darshan of Maa Tripura Sundari, and thereafter he listened to PM Modi Ji's Mann ki Baat program at Chandrapur Colony higher secondary school at Chandrapur under Matabari in Gomati district.

Later in the day, the Minister visited Charilam village to oversee a centrally sponsored renewable energy project taken up by the Tripura Renewable Energy Development Agency (TREDA) for the farmers and also reviewed the implementation of MNRE schemes.

During the review of MNRE activities in the area, the Minister said 27 SPV Pumps covering 54 acres of land under PM- KUSUM Scheme (Component B) and 35 LED based SPV Street Lighting Systems under MNRE Scheme have been installed. He added that these initiatives have led to the successful implementation of double cropping, resulting in double income for the farmers.

Union Minister Shri Joshi said that the Government of India has recently approved a Private Enterprise Guarantee (PEG) scheme for enhancing storage space in North Eastern States. With this initiative, FCI aims to double its storage capacity in Tripura by constructing additional capacity of 70,000 MT in a two years' time period.

He said today, India is providing free food grains to 81 crore people under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, which is twice the population of the European Union. Under the scheme rice, wheat and coarse grains are being provided at free of cost to state identified beneficiaries as per local need. Modi government has extended this free ration scheme till December 31, 2028.

In the last 5-years under Decentralised Procurement mode, around 1.2 lakh MT Rice of MSP value Rs 360 cr has been procured in Tripura state benefitting around 94,000 farmers.

Recently, Central government has also extended the universal supply of fortified rice enriched with essential micronutrients such as iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12 under all government welfare schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, Integrated Child Development Services and PM POSHAN from July 2024 until December 2028. In 2023-24, around 1.75 lakh MT Fortified rice was lifted/distributed under various welfare schemes in Tripura.

One Nation, One Ration Card plan has been implemented by all 36 States/UTs, across the country to benefit the migrant labourers, Shri Joshi said, adding that the beneficiaries are empowered to lift their entitled foodgrain from any Fair Price Shop.