Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today exhorted the media to emphatically project the success ventures initiated by the progressive farmers in agriculture and allied sector so as to further boost this core sector- the mainstay of economic growth in Northern India especially in Punjab.Addressing a galaxy of eminent industrialists and business tycoons from the region during the “India Today Business Wizards North- 2016”, the Chief Minister said that the print as well as electronic media should highlight the innovative techniques and modern farm practices adopted by farmers so as encourage their peers especially the young farmers to bring transformation of rural India. The Chief Minister also impressed upon the media to do reporting objectively. He urged them to avoid sensationalism to present the events in a right perspective for promoting peace and communal harmony in the larger public interest.
Listing the path breaking initiatives undertaken by the state government, the Chief Minister said that Punjab has emerged as the most preferred investment destination in the country due to ‘ease of doing business’ here besides Ludhiana-the Manchester of India has become the most attractive business destination. He mentioned that Punjab was the only state which could rightly boast of its congenial industrial climate coupled with skilled manpower fully capable of catering to the needs of local industry.Highly appreciating the leadership qualities and entrepreneurial skills of the Punjabis, the Chief Minister said that they could do wonders anywhere in the world with their grit and stamina. He said that Punjab Government has endeavored to promote skill development in a big way as several skills up-gradation Centres in specific trades have been started to provide quality labor to the local industry as per their requirements.
Earlier, the Resident Editor India Today group Mr. Asit Jolly and General Manager Mr. Ashok Sanwal welcomed the Chief Minister for gracing the occasion.
On the occasion the Chief Minister also released a coffee table book highlighting the enormous contribution of the prominent industrial wizards from the region besides honoring them with an award for their rare feat in the field of industry, trade and business.Amongst the 17 business tycoons who were honored for their rare feat in Industry and business, the Punjab State Cooperative Milk Producers Federation Limited, popularly known as MILKFED Punjab which ushered in a ‘second white revolution’ in India under its brand name VERKA was also honored for connecting more than four lac farmers across the state. The award was received by the Chairman MIKLFED Mr. Amarjit Singh Sidhu along with its Managing Director Mr. Manjit Singh Brar.
It may be recalled that MILKFED with a turnover of Rs. 2700 crore for 2015-16 has a network of 7000 co-operative societies that give the farming community collective resources, technical inputs and necessary infrastructure. The core feature of VERKA’s model is farmer control over three stages of operations i.e. procurement, processing and marketing of milk and milk products.The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Joint Principal Secretary Mr. Kumar Amit.