Member of Parliament and Former Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare, Radha Mohan Singh, Thursday, inaugurated the Modern Krishi Mandi equipped with solar lights and drinking water facilities dedicating it to the people of Areraj, Motihari under Syngenta’s I-CLEAN (Inculcating Cleanliness, Learning, Education, Awareness & New Habits) initiative started from East Champaran in 2014. The Mandi is equipped with nine sheds, six solar lights, 6,570 sq ft paver soling and a borewell for drinking water which will benefit Areraj town and surrounding 12 to 15 villages. Around 250 vendors and the local community also stand to gain from this market infrastructure.
The newly created mandi comes with multiple benefits for the community. Clean and hygienic market place for improved health conditions of the vendors, extended business hours due to solar lighting facility, more number of vendors to use the market for selling vegetables, grocery among others, increase income of the vendors and a modern market to help the local economy flourish. This programme also complements the Government of India’s (GrAMs to Haat) Yojana for modernisation and development of infrastructure.
Lauding the initiative of Syngenta, Radha Mohan Singh highlighted the significance of Clean India Mission call given by the Prime Minister and asked farmers and villagers to religiously follow the values inherent in cleanliness. “Cleanliness breeds a healthy mind and ensures happiness which is key to the honest labour that we put into our work. It also keeps dirt and diseases at bay and allows us to constructively engage ourselves in our vocations.”
He added, “I compliment Syngenta for choosing these very remote villages in Bihar for undertaking their CSR activities and, despite the restricted movement because of the Corona Pandemic, Syngenta completed the project in record time. It demonstrates their commitment towards the farmers, and I sincerely hope it inspires others to undertake similar social work.”
Dr KC Ravi, Chief Sustainability Officer, Syngenta India said, “Our commitment to the farmers is enduring. We are pleased to be getting this opportunity to serve farmers and their families in villages of Bihar through our I-CLEAN initiative. The Mandi will provide a permanent shed to farmers to sell their produce. The area has also been provided with solar lights to ensure that the market goes on till evening even after the sunset. Drinking water facility has also been created in the market area.”
“I sincerely hope this intervention will bring about a qualitative change in the lives of farmers here”, Dr Ravi further added. He requested the local community to take good care of the offered facility.
The launch event was attended by more than 150 farmers from neighbouring villages. Syngenta launched I-CLEAN project as part of its CSR initiative in 2014 to provide primary infrastructure such as adequate shelter for vendors, basic sanitation facilities, potable drinking water, electricity, clean and hygienic surroundings to the rural mandis.
