Rabindranath Biswas
Dasarathpur, March 03: The farmer community of Dasarathpur is facing severe problems in their agricultural activities owing to non-availability of a tractor in the Gram Panchayat Dasarathpur.
According to information, there was a proposal from the Office of the previous Member of Parliament, Shri Kuldeep Rai Sharma for providing a Tractor to the Gram Panchayat Dasarathpur under MPLADS. However, the delay in procurement of the tractor has been causing undesired problems to the agricultural activities of the farmers of Dasarathpur.
Andaman Sheekha Daily spoke to Smti. Rupa Rani Halder, Pradhan, Gram Panchayat Dasarathpur and she she told that she has written several letters to the concerned departments and authorities but her plea and the exigency of the tractor hasn’t been reportedly felt by them, and as a result of which the farmers are suffering, she said. On the other hand, the old and existing tractor is in defunct state, while the proposed tractor isn’t being reportedly provided to the Panchayat, she decried.
The Pradhan said that the former Member of Parliament had written a recommendation letter to the Deputy Commissioner, N & M Andaman District, Mayabunder on 17/05/2022 for sanctioning the purchase and supply of 01 (one) number of Tractor 575 DI XP Plus Tractor fitted with cultivator attachments viz. iron wheel set, Fertilizer Drill, Tiller etc. under MPLADS to the Dasarathpur Gram Panchayat, Rangat Tehsil for the agricultural purpose of the farmers.
The Pradhan then submitted an affidavit duly executed by the Panchayat Secretary (I/c) in regard to upkeep and maintenance of the asset i.e. the tractor to be provided to the Panchayat. Several Correspondences were also done from the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Mayabunder to the Director (Agriculture), A & N Administration, Port Blair in respect of procurement of 01 (one) number of Tractor 575 DI XP Plus Tractor to be provided to Dasarathpur Gram Panchayat and in the process a significant time had reportedly elapsed but no communication was conveyed to the Office, the Pradhan said.
As per section 3.12 of MPLADS Operational Guidelines “All recommended eligible works should be sanctioned within 75 days from the date of receipt of the recommendation, after completing all formalities” the DC’s letter further read, the Pradhan said. It was urged in the letter to recommend the DC’s Office for purchase of the tractor without any more delay, Smti Rupa Rani Halder said.
This is how, several communications and correspondences were done between the concerned Offices and authorities from the year 2022, but regrettably, the tractor hasn’t been procured and provided to the Panchayat yet, while the farmers have been facing the wrath of the situation, the Pradhan said. Furthermore, 90% farmers of Dasasarathpur cultivate paddy and who are in dire need of a Tractor for tilling their land, she claimed.
Besides, there are hardly two months left to start the rainy season and cultivation, and hence the proposed Tractor ought to have been in place i.e. in GP Dasarathpur, she maintained. She now wants that the concerned Departments should take concrete steps in this regard and provide the tractor to the Panchayat without further delay in the larger interests of the farmers of Dasarathpur, she urged.
