Fruits and vegetables from Meghalaya and other north-eastern states will now get 50 per cent subsidy for air transportation to any place in India
Under Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, Operation Greens Scheme TOP to TOTAL, 50 per cent transportation subsidy is now made available for air transportation for 41 notified fruits and vegetables from North-Eastern and Himalayan states to any place in India.
Airlines will provide the transport subsidy directly to the supplier, consignor, consignee, agent by way of charging only 50 per cent of the actual contracted freight charges and will claim the balance 50 per cent from the Ministry of Food Processing Industries as subsidy.
The scheme was approved and the amended Scheme Guidelines were notified on November 2. All the airports in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim (Bagdogra), and Tripura from North-East, and Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are eligible for this scheme.
In relaxation of other conditions for Operation Greens – TOP to TOTAL Scheme for transportation through airlines from eligible airports, all consignment of notified fruits and vegetables irrespective of quantity and price would be eligible for 50 per cent freight subsidy.
The transportation subsidy was earlier extended under Operation Greens Scheme for Kisan Rail Scheme with effect from October 12. Railways charge only 50 per cent of freight charges on the notified fruits and vegetables.
As many as 21 fruits are eligible for this air transport subsidy scheme. They include mango, banana, guava, kiwi, litchi, mousambi, orange, kinnow, lime, lemon, papaya, pineapple, pomegranate, jackfruit, apple, almond, aonla, passion fruit, pear, sweet potato, and chikoo;
There are 20 vegetables eligible under this scheme. They include french beans, bitter gourd, brinjal, capsicum, carrot, cauliflower, green chillies, okra, cucumber, peas, garlic, onion, potato, tomato, large cardamom, pumpkin, ginger, cabbage, squash and dry turmeric.
