The central government has announced a package of over Rs 8,000 crore for the purpose of providing relief to sugarcane farmers and removing their liabilities. According to a government official, the package contains three elements.
A buffer stock of 30 lmt (lakh MT) sugar will be made with Rs. 1,200 crores. This money will be directly transferred to accounts of sugarcane farmers. Rs 4,400 crore will be used to increase ethanol production to divert sugarcane away from sugar mills which are unable to dispose of their inventories. The government has also decided to ensure a minimum sale price of Rs 29/kg for sugar.
Cabinet Ministers of India:
- Raj Nath Singh: Minister of Home Affairs.
- Sushma Swaraj: Minister of External Affairs.
- Arun Jaitley: Minister of Finance, and Minister of Corporate Affairs.
- Suresh Prabhu: Minister of Commerce and Industry.
- Uma Bharati: Minister of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
- Nirmala Sitharaman: Minister of Defence.
- Piyush Goyal: Minister of Railways; and Minister of Coal.
