NE NEWS SERVICE
BENGALURU, JAN 2
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called up on the states, which are not associated with Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Yojana (PMKSY) will at least become a part of it from this year.
Disbursing Rs. 12,000-crore to six crore farmers under the Kisan Samman Yojana at one go, at a function held at Tumakuru in Karanataka on Thursday, Mr. Modi said “I expect that in the new year, those states which are not associated with the PMKSY will at least become a part of it this year.”
He also slammed states, which have not enrolled with the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Yojana (PMKSY), saying that such petty politics has done great damage to the farming community.
Also, he gave away the Krishi Karman Award to the selected farmers and distributed fishing equipment to the chosen ones on the occasion. Modi said political considerations by the state governments in implementing the PMKSY have caused severe loss to the poor farmers.
“Such politics has never strengthened the farmers. Our government understood your (farmers’) needs, requirements and your aspirations and accordingly tried to implement the schemes,” said Modi.
He further said his government never saw agriculture in fragments but in its totality. Claiming his government has ensured that the entire money reached the poor beneficiaries, Prime Minister hit out at the previous governments, when middlemen ruled the roost. “There was a time when a rupee was rolled out (by the government) for the poor person, only 15 paise would reach him. The middlemen would pocket the remaining 85 paise.
“Today, whatever money is dispatched from Delhi, the entire amount directly reaches the bank account of the beneficiary,” he said. He told the gathering about the various initiatives taken by his government to improve the agriculture sector such as completing the pending irrigation schemes, soil health card and 100 per cent neem-coating in urea.
Due to the initiatives of the government, agriculture production has gone up, he said. Speaking about measures in the fisheries sector, the Prime Minister said the sector has been promoted in the villages, financial help given to fishermen, modernisation of boats and building fisheries-related infrastructure have been done.
Prime Minister on a two day visit to Karnataka reached Bengaluru in the afternoon and left for Tumakuru by helicopter along with the Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa. Both have visited Siddaganga Mutt in Tumakuru before participating at a farmers rally.
