For cordial ties: Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeting Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy on the sidelines of the NITI Ayog meeting in New Delhi on Sunday. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement more-in Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy has renewed the demand for Statehood with special status for the Union Territory. Addressing the governing council of NITI Ayog in New Delhi on Sunday, the Chief Minister said the demand for special status with Statehood had been long pending. He demanded inclusion of the Union Territory under the ambit of the Central Finance Commission for devolution of funds similar to other States. The Chief Minister demanded waiver of legacy loans, payment of Seventh Pay Commission arrears, special package for industrial development, permission to dispose land belonging to Anglo French Textiles so as to clear statutory dues of workers, disinvestment of Ashok Hotel and expansion of port and airport. The need of the hour was to transform the agriculture sector and double farmers income. The distress of farmers witnessed across the country called for implementation of various farmer friendly measures to obviate their difficulties, he said. Farm sector reforms In order to ensure better remunerative price for farm products, the territorial administration had integrated two of its large regulated markets in Puducherry and Karaikal regions under the e-National Agriculture Marketing project. The administration had plans to add two more markets this financial year. The government was actively considering amendments to the law governing the local Agriculture Produce Market Committee, the Chief Minister added.

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