Saturday, November 14, 2015

A National Saffron Mission? Good Heavens! - by K.J.S.Chatrath

When I read the headlines in the respectable newspaper The Hindu saying "Centre extends National Saffron Mission by 2 years", frankly I didnt like it as I am not an admirer of the 'Saffron Brigade'. What are these gentlemen upto, I asked myself. 

But reading  the article further I realised how deceptive was the headline and how wrong were my misgivings. To set the record straight, a National Saffron Mission was set up by Government of India in November 2010 for 4 years. Its aim was to encourage and improve the cultivation of saffron in the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir. The Rs. 371.18 crore Mission  with Rs.286.06 crore as the Central Government’s share and Rs. 85.12 crore as farmers’ share was just due to expire. So the Government has happily extended it by 2 years.


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