Amid the ongoing farmers' protests in the northern states of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, the Centre announced its approval of the ‘Fair and Remunerative Price’ (FRP) of sugarcane payable by sugar factories for the sugar season 2024-25.
During a briefing after the cabinet meeting, Union minister Anurag Thakur emphasized the government's commitment to ensuring a fair and reasonable price for sugarcane farmers. The decision entails fixing the price at ₹340 per quintal for the upcoming season, a notable increase from the previous year's ₹315.
Highlighting the significance of this decision, the government underscored its dedication to providing affordable sugar to domestic consumers while benefiting over 5 crore sugarcane farmers and countless others associated with the sugar sector. This move, it asserted, reaffirms the Modi administration's pledge to double farmers' income.
Under the approved scheme, sugar mills will pay the FRP of sugarcane at ₹340 per quintal with a recovery rate of 10.25 percent. Additionally, for every 0.1 percent increase in recovery, farmers will receive an extra ₹3.32, while a corresponding deduction will occur for a reduction in recovery.
Moreover, the government clarified that ₹315.10/quintal serves as the minimum price of sugarcane, ensuring that farmers are guaranteed this amount even if the sugar recovery rate is lower.
In another significant decision, the Cabinet approved the implementation of the Ministry of Home Affairs' Umbrella Scheme on ‘Safety of Women’. With a total cost of Rs.1,179.72 crore for the period from 2021-22 to 2025-26, the scheme will receive funding from both the MHA's budget and the Nirbhaya Fund.
Recognizing that ensuring women's safety requires a multifaceted approach, the government emphasized the importance of stringent deterrence through legal amendments, effective delivery of justice, timely redressal of complaints, and accessible institutional support structures for victims. Amendments to key legal frameworks such as the Indian Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code, and Indian Evidence Act have been crucial in providing this stringent deterrence.
