In order to curb the menace of stubble burning and environment pollution, HMEL has formed ten women self-help groups in neighbouring vicinity villages of Guru Gobind Singh Refinery and providing them happy seeders along with high power tractors. These groups shall provide crop sowing services through happy seeders to farmers, which would mulch the crop residue and help restricting stubble burning. Mr. Praneet Bhardwaj, Deputy Commissioner, Bathinda, today handed over the happy seeders and tractors to the members of eight self-help-groups falling in Punjab, viz: Tarkhanwala, Raman Village, Malkana, Sekhu, Bagha, Giana, Kanakwal and Phullokhari. Remaining two groups from village Hassu and Naurang in Haryana shall also be handed over shortly.Applauding the initiative by HMEL, Mr. Bhardwaj, appealed to the farmers to refrain, from burning the paddy stubble, rather take advantage of the various available schemes for in-situ management of crop residue through happy seeder, which also enhances the productivity of the soil.
A S Basu, Head of Refinery, Mr. Krishan Tuteja, VP-Operations, HMEL, Mr. Harjinder Singh Jassal, District Development and Panchayat Officer and sarpanches of these villages were present during the event.These groups are supported by the District Administration, which shall act as a custodian, in order to regulate the working of the groups, while the group members shall contribute the cost of a new trolley unit out their own pockets. The Groups would charge the Government approved rate for giving the implements on rent to other farmers interested in management of paddy straw residue through in situ incorporation in fields, which includes their own tractor, driver, fuel and machinery. All the group members shall be provided training regarding the operations of happy seeder.The women for the SHGs appreciated the support of HMEL for providing them with a sustainable source of income and helping in saving the environment.