No sight of Krishi Karman Award despite Centre's letter

Kolkata: The state government is yet to receive the Krishi Karman Award even four months after it was announced by the Centre.

The Centre sent a letter to the state agriculture department on April 21 declaring that Bengal has been selected for the award as the best performing state in pulses production for the year 2015-16.

In the letter addressed to the state Agriculture minister Purnendu Basu, the Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh had appreciated the role played by the state government in making it possible to take Bengal to the top as best performing state in pulses production.

It was also mentioned that besides a trophy, a citation and Rs 2 crore cash will be awarded. Though no date that when the award will be given was mentioned in the letter, it was stated that the award will be given in a function that will be held soon.

The Centre had also requested Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Basu to attend the function in which the award will be given along with senior officials. However, neither the Chief Minister nor the state Agriculture minister had attended in any of the award giving ceremonies when Bengal had won the Krishi Karman Award for four consecutive years and senior officials had received the award. But such a delay in giving the award was unexpected for the top brass of the state government. Moreover, there was no further communiqué from the Centre informing the reason behind the "unexpected delay".

"Usually, they give the award within one and a half month after sending the letter. This time, it is already four months but they didn't inform us where and when the award giving programme will be held," the official said.

It is the fifth consecutive year when Bengal bagged the Centre's award for excellence in agriculture. In 2014-15 fiscal, Bengal had won the same award for the increase in the cultivation of food grains and oil seeds. On April 12, the Chief Minister had posted in Facebook: "Bengal has done it again! For the fifth time in a row, Bengal has again bagged the prestigious "Krishi Karman Award" of the Government of India for excellence in agriculture."

Congratulating the farmers, Banerjee had further stated: "In spite of the devastating floods of 2015-16, our state has achieved spectacular growth in pulses production while sustaining overall growth in food production. I dedicate this wonderful achievement to all my farmer brothers and sisters. My best wishes to all."