Highlights of UPA-II's Achievments
Bangalore: Defending the repeated criticism by the opposition parties on the policy paralysis the United Progressive Alliance-II (UPA-II) ministers highlighted the achievements they have made so far. The government’s achievements were listed by Home Minister P Chidambaram, Law Minister Salman Khurshid along with Congress leader V Narayanasamy in a press conference in Bhopal. The key achievements addressed to the media by Minister Chidambaram are the following.
Unprecedented record of foodgrain stock:
The strategic and buffer stock of wheat and rice in the country by June 30 should be 31.9 million tones including 26.9 million tonnes as buffer stock and another 5 million tonnes as strategic reserve as per the government rules. The total food grain as on April 1st 2012 had reached 53.30 million tones and this was a two and half time more than the required norms. According to the Food Corporation of India (FCI), the foodgrain stocks have gone to 71.21 million tonnes as of May 1st.
The government's grains inventory has built up because of the tremendous growth in the food grain stock in the last few years. The FCI’s target for this year is to buy a record 35 million tonnes of rice and 32 million tonnes of wheat. The country has got the all time record harvest of rice and wheat.
Prime Minister had said in the UPA II’s third anniversary celebrations, “The rural wages have increased. Farmers have been given handsome prices for their crops. This year there was record foodgrain production crossing 250 million tones."
