India’s minister of state (independent charge) of textiles Santosh Kumar Gangwar has directed the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) to make online payments to farmers’ directly into their bank accounts as envisaged under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana.
The minister gave this direction at a meeting to take stock of the current cotton situation and minimum support price (MSP) operations in the country.
In addition to making direct online payments, Gangwar also directed the CCI to immediately open additional cotton procurement centres wherever required.
He further urged the CCI to closely monitor MSP operations on a daily basis.
Gangwar stressed on the need to boost cotton exports. For the purpose he suggested exploring new regions for exporting cotton. He also advised devising other measures for promoting cotton export.
Meanwhile, secretary (textiles) SK Panda has written to chief secretaries of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh states, intimating them about the arrangements made by CCI for purchase of cotton. (RKS)
