Sikar/New Delhi, July 27: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that the central government understands the pain and needs of farmers. He said that our government will not allow our farmers to suffer due to urea prices.
The Prime Minister today laid the foundation stone of various development projects in Sikar, Rajasthan, and dedicated them to the nation.
Projects include Dedicating over 1.25 Lakh PM Kisan Samridhi Kendras (PMKSK) to the nation, Launching a new variety of sulfur-coated urea, Urea Gold, and involving 1600 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) in inclusion, the release of the 14th installment of about Rs 17,000 crore under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) to 8.5 crore beneficiaries, Inauguration of five new Medical Colleges at Chittorgarh, Dholpur, Sirohi, Sikar, and Sri Ganganagar, Baran, Bundi, includes the foundation stone laying of seven Medical Colleges at Karauli, Jhunjhunu, Sawai Madhopur, Jaisalmer, and Tonk, and the inauguration of six Eklavya Model Residential Schools located in Udaipur, Banswara, Pratapgarh, and Dungarpur districts, and Kendriya Vidyalaya Tiwari, Jodhpur.
Addressing the gathering at the venue, she expressed gratitude for getting the opportunity to start various development programmes from the Veer Bhoomi of Shekhawati.
Noting the importance of the farmers of the Sikar and Shekhawati regions, the Prime Minister saluted their hard work despite the hardships of the area. The Prime Minister said that the present Government at the Centre understands the pain and needs of the farmers.
The Prime Minister explained how, in the last nine years, new systems have been created from seed to market. He reminded us that the Soil Health Card Scheme was started in Suratgarh in 2015. Through this scheme, millions of farmers are making informed decisions about soil health.
He said that 1.25 PM Kisan Samridhi Kendra (PMKSK) would pave the way for the prosperity of the farmers. These centres are being developed as one-stop shops for the needs of the farmers. These centres will also provide advanced, modern information on agriculture-related issues to the farmers, and they will also give timely information about agriculture schemes of the central government.
The Prime Minister advised the farmers to keep visiting the centres and benefit from the knowledge available there. The Prime Minister informed us that an additional 1.75 lakh PM Kisan Samridhi Kendras (PMKSK) will be set up before the end of the year.
The Prime Minister said that the present Central Government is working very seriously to reduce the expenses of the farmers and support them in their time of need. Referring to PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, the Prime Minister said that it is the world’s largest scheme in which funds are directly transferred to the bank accounts of farmers.
He informed us that, including today’s 14th installment, so far more than Rs 2 lakh, 60 thousand crore have been directly transferred to the bank accounts of the farmers, which has benefited the farmers in covering various expenses.
He said that the price of urea in the country is an example of the government saving the farmers expenses.
Referring to the Corona pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, which caused major disruptions in the fertiliser sector, the Prime Minister underlined that the present government did not allow this to affect the country’s farmers.
Speaking about the prices of fertilisers, the Prime Minister pointed out that a bag of urea, which costs Rs 266 in India, costs around Rs 800 in Pakistan, around Rs 720 in Bangladesh, around Rs 2100 in China, and around Rs 3000 in the US.
Modi said, “The government will not let our farmers be troubled by urea prices. When a farmer goes to buy urea, he believes it is Modi’s guarantee.”
The Prime Minister spoke of measures such as the promotion of millets and the branding of millets as Shri Anna.
He said that our government has given the identity of ‘Shri Anna’ to coarse grains. The government is taking ‘Shri Anna’ to markets across the world. By doing this, its production, processing, and exports are increasing.
The Prime Minister said that India’s development is possible only when its villages are developed. India can develop only in developed villages. That is why the government is working to provide all those facilities in the villages, which until now were only available in the cities.
Referring to the growing health infrastructure, the Prime Minister said that until nine years ago there were only ten medical colleges in Rajasthan; today this number has reached 35.
The Prime Minister concluded by wishing good health to Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who has been ill for some time and could not attend the event.
Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra, union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, union Health and Family Welfare Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, and union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister were present on the occasion. Minister of State Kailash Chowdhary and others were present.
