The Centre today decided to increase Minimum Suppport Price for Kharif season of 2012-13 for various food grains. A decision to this effect was taken at the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, CCEA which met in New Delhi this morning. Briefing media persons on the decisions taken at the meeting Union Home Minister Mr. P. Chidambaram said the price of paddy has been raised from one thousand 80 to one thousand 250 per quintal. Jawar from 980 to 1,500, the MSP of Bajra, Maize, Ragi and Urad have also been increased. He said Moong and tur pulses are not included in the list of increased MSP.
Mr. Chidambaram said the Centre has also decided to expand to include 22 additional districts in the list of 250 backward regions grant fund to give thrust to development in backward areas. Four additional districts will be also brought under the Integrated Action Plan in the current fiscal. The CCEA also approved the extension of duration of the Crime and Criminal Tracking netowork and Systems CCTNS project, scheduled to end on 31st March of this year, by another three years upto 31st of March, 2015. Mr. Chidambaram said that funds to the tune of over four hundred eighteen crore rupees have been released to the State and Union Territories. He said about 4 lakh fifty four thousand personnel have been trained under capacity building against a target of about 11 lakh thirty four thousand personnel. He said CCTNS is a project which aims at creating a comprehensive and intergrated system for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of policing at the Police Station level.
In another decision, CCEA approved the introduction of a new Centrally-sponsored scheme of Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC students studying in classes nineth and tenth. He said the Finance Minister had announced about the scheme in his budget speech for 2011-12, the Minister said the scheme will be implemented from 1st of July this year.
The Union Cabinet today approved the proposal of the Ministry of Defence for mutual exchange of 2.50 acres of land between the Administration of the Union Territory of Chandigarh and Indian Air Force, IAF under Ministry of Defence for expansion of Civil Air Terminal at Chandigarh Airport.
