New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that new dimensions are being added to farming and related aspects in India while noting that recent agricultural reforms have opened up doors of new opportunities for farmers.
The Prime Minister was speaking at his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio address. His remarks came amid the protests by farmers over the recently passed three farm bills.
Discussing a wide range of topics during #MannKiBaat. https://t.co/cWsL7Z3a9w
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 29, 2020
While speaking of the Centre’s new farm laws and the advantages they brought, PM Modi said decades-old demands of farmers, which were promised to be fulfilled by many political parties, have now been met with.
“Parliament has passed farm reform laws after rigorous brainstorming. These reforms have not only broken shackles of farmers but have also given new rights and opportunities to them. These rights started mitigating problems of farmers very quickly,” he added.
The PM also cited an example of a farmer from Dhule district in Maharashtra who benefited from the new farm laws.
“You should know how Jitendra Bhoji, a farmer in Dhule, Maharashtra used new farm laws. Jitendra produced maize and decided to sell it to traders at right price. The total amount agreed was around three lakh 32 thousand rupees. Jitendra also got an advance of 25 thousand rupees. It was agreed that he will get remaining amount in 15 days. But, situation became such that he didn’t get remaining balance.
“Buying crops from farmers but not paying them for months. Those who bought Jitendra’s produce were probably following this old norm. Jitendra didn’t get his remaining balance for four months. In this situation, new farm laws passed in September came to his rescue,” PM said.
Further elaborating on the new farm laws, PM said that under this law, it is mandatory to pay within three days of purchasing the produce. “If payment is not made, then the farmer can lodge a complaint. Another major provision under his law is that the SDM of the area must address complaint of the farmer within a month,” he added.
It is pertinent to mention here that farmers in Punjab and Haryana have launched a campaign against the Centre’s newly enacted farm laws and seek assurance on MSP and mandi system. The farmers, who have been protesting for last four days, were given permission for a peaceful protest in Delhi on Friday.
Meanwhile, a majority of farmers have rejected Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s offer of moving the ongoing protests to a designated site in Burari on the outskirts of the national capital. They have decided to stay put outside Delhi borders.
-ARK
