Prime Minister Narender Modi today released the 10th instalment of Rs 20,000 crore under the PM-Kisan Nidhi as a New Year Gift to the crores of farmers across the nation. He urged farmers to adopt the chemical-free natural farming and citizens to give universal recognition to Indian products to make a leap towards making Atam-Nirbhar Bharat in 2022 under the far-sighted policies of the government.
In a virtual address to the farmers of Nation on first day of new year 2022, Prime Minister said it is a great honour and inspiration to start New year with the Anndatta of nation. “We have transferred 10th instalments of PM kisan niddhi to crores of farmers including equity grant to the Farmers Producers Organisations (FPOs), and new FPO start-ups through digital mode today”, he said.
With this instalment, Rs 1.80 lakh crore has been transferred in crores of farmers’ account under this scheme till now. "This money is being used by small farmers to buy new seeds, equipment and to meet their other needs. FPOs have increased bargaining power of farmers", Modi said.
He said the farmers are buying different items on the whole sale rates through FPOs, sell their produce in retail, they get more opportunities, innovations, risk management, can change crops according to the bazars' demands. They can sow crops according to demands of markets and can also create new demands for new crops in markets”, Modi said.
He said the government is giving Rs 15 lakh each assistance to FPOs. The organic seeds, bamboo clusters, one district, one product and thousand other FPOs have come up. “We import edible oils, pay huge Rs 11000 crore bill on imports. Now under National Palm Oil Mission, we are reversing this import, which will benefit the farmers ”, Modi said.
Prime Minister said the Food grains production has increased to 300 million tonnes; horticulture, floriculture, vegetables production to 330 million tonnes in 2021. Milk production has increased by 45 per cent and the government simultaneously has also increased MSPs on all crops, he said.
Modi said over 60 lakh hectare area has been brought under irrigation. The farmers paid Rs 21000 crore as premium while they got Rs 1 lakh crore as compensation under the crop insurance in 202, he said.
To reuse and recycle agricultural waste and Parali, the government has launched schemes to generate Biofuel from agri-waste, has produced 340 crore ltr of ethylene, more than five times from 60 crore ltr produced earlier. The farmers are producing organic fertilisers from gobar gas plants by utilising the cow dung of stray cattle under Gobardhan scheme- a step towards Atam-Nirbhar Bharat and sabka vikas, he said. The foot and mouth diseases is under control and animal husbandry has been linked to Kisan Credit Cards(KCC), he said.
Prime Minister urged farmers to protect fertility and health of soil and adopt chemical-Mukt(free) natural farming and urged them share a film on this farming on social media so that it reaches each farmer across the nation. “Natural farming is being linked with modern technology. A big global bazaar awaits the farmers selling chemical-free fruits, grains and products that ensure good health of consumers and good soil health as well”, Modi said.
Prime Minister said 2021 would go down as a year that India faced century’s greatest pandemic with great success and resilience with the united might of people. It has shown a way to the world and now it is an inspiration for taking India to new heights in 2022 and in next decade, he said adding when nation unites, even big challenges look small goals.
Today, Indians have got 145 crore vaccine doses and we created a world record by injecting 2.5 crore doses in a single day, he said. "As many as 2 crore houses have got tap water in 2 years, 80 crore people got free ration worth Rs 2.60 lakh crore that benefited villagers, laborers and poor across the country".
He said the villages were linked through Optical Fiber cables for rural connectivity and e-Rupay payment gateways and launched One Ration Card, one nation. "Together, if we take one step forward, it means 130 crore steps forward under united India", he said.
Prime Minister said the country has got new energy and new speed of development. “When we see faces of our PadamShris from across India, who have got recognition, we get more inspiration to move forward”. He said we have improved health infrastructure, set up new medical colleges, new wellness centres, new hospitals, new labs and giving free health care to poor under Ayushman Bharat mission.
Today Economy is rebounding and growing at the rate of 8 per cent, foreign exchange, GST collections, imports and exports have jumped breaching old records, he said.
Talking about the success of digital India mission, He said in 2021, Rs 70 lakh crore transaction was done through UPI under this mission, 50,000 start-ups came up and 10,000 startups were set up in the last two months of 2021. As many as 42 unicorns each with Rs 7000 crore investment, came up that tells the success story of young entrepreneurs of India, Modi said.
From Chardham projects to Kashi Vishwanath projects, from Ram Mandir Ayodhaya to Namami Gange projects, we are protecting ancient heritage, Modi said. “They will create sources of livelihoods and bring in pilgrimage tourism boom in India that will benefit locals under “local is vocal mission”, he said.
On empowerment of women, in 2021 India opened doors of miliary academy to the daughters and now increasing their marriageable age to 21 years at par with sons, he said. As many as 2 crore women got house ownership rights under PM Awas yojna, Modi said.
Talking about India’s achievements in sports, Prime Minister said India proved its mettle in Tokyo Olympics ParaOlympics. The modern sporting infrastructure is attracting Indian youth towards sports in a big way.
India has achieved the target of installing 40 percent of its energy from non-fossil energy sources in 2021 that was fixed for 2030, Modi said. “Hydrogen mission, electric transportation, LED bulbs electrification of cities and villages, Solar panel and pumps in farms, are big steps towards saving environment and empowering farmers in 2021”, he said .
Prime Minister said PM Gati shakti has given a big push to modern infrastructure, production of chips and semiconductors and set up the seven defence companies, drone mission, Indian space mission making Atam-Nirbhar Bharat.
Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said over 7.86 lakh farmers got the direct benefit under the scheme.
(Kuldeep Chauhan is Editor, Himbu Mail)
