Keypoints:
- ‘MSP (Minimum Support Price) tha, MSP hai aur MSP rahega’ (MSP was there, MSP is there, MSP will remain in the future) said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Rajya Sabha on Monday.
- This happened amid the ongoing farmers’ protests against the Centre’s contentious farm laws.
- PM Modi also said that the need of the hour is to improve the lives of the country’s small farmers.
On Monday, PM Modi while addressing the Rajya Sabha, he said that MSP tha, hai aur MSP rahega. Modi said this amid the Centre’s contentious farm laws. He also added that the need of the hour is to improve the lives of the country’s small farmers and the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) initiated changes in the agriculture sector since 2014.
While replying to the motion of thanks on the President’s address in the Rajya Sabha, PM Modi said that, “Since 2014 we have initiated changes in the agriculture sector aimed at empowering the farmer. The crop insurance scheme was changed to make it more farmer-friendly. The PM-KISAN scheme was also brought in. We are working for the small farmers.”
“MSP was there. MSP is there. MSP will remain in the future. Affordable ration for the poor will continue and Mandis will be modernised,” the Prime Minister added.
Various schemes like Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) also helped the farmers in different ways, added the PM.
“NDA’s other schemes also help farmers. For example- the PMGSY. When the road connectivity improves, it enables the produce of the farmers to reach distant places. There are efforts like Kisan Rail too. The need of the hour is to improve the lives of the small farmers,” he said.
In PM’s address in response to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address, he said that India is a land of opportunities. He also hailed the contribution given by India’s corona-warriors, in fighting the global pandemic. Slamming the opposition for their criticism over the farm laws, PM said that his government was implementing the reforms suggested by former PM Manmohan Singh.
He further stressed that the Government is working for the small farmers. Farmers have got claim worth Rs 90,000 crore under PMFBY. Farmers also benefitted from Kisan Credit Card, Soil Health Card and Samman Nidhi.
