Finance
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid foundation stones for development projects worth around ₹19,4800 crore in Guwahati, Assam today. The Prime Minister addressed a grand gathering in Guwahati, extending his heartfelt greetings to the people of the city. He also greeted the farmers joining from across the country, as well as the brothers and sisters working in tea gardens. The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude for the privilege of being on the sacred land of Maa Kamakhya on the eve of Navratri. “I have been blessed with the fortune of having your darshan on this pious land of Maa Kamakhya, just before Navratri begins,” said Shri Modi.
The Prime Minister stated that with the blessings of Maa Kamakhya, the foundation stones and inaugurations of development projects worth ₹19,500 crore were carried out shortly. PM Modi noted that Assam has received a vast array of projects , ranging from those aimed at making Assam self-reliant in the energy sector to works enhancing the convenience of people travelling to Assam. The Prime Minister emphasized that this is also a momentous day for the farmers of the country and for the workers of Assam’s tea gardens. Shri Modi informed the gathering that more than ₹18,000 crore under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme was transferred directly into the accounts of crores of Annadatas across the nation. The Prime Minister further highlighted that land pattas have been distributed to numerous families associated with Assam’s tea plantations. “I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the people of Assam, to all families here, and to farmers across the country,” said Shri Modi.
The Prime Minister noted that farmers from across the country are connected to this programme from the sacred land of Maa Kamakhya. PM Modi stated that crores of farmers have already received messages confirming the deposit of PM Kisan Nidhi in their accounts. The Prime Minister described the scheme as truly extraordinary. Shri Modi recalled that these are the very farmer brothers and sisters, the majority of whom had neither a mobile phone nor a bank account before 2014. The Prime Minister informed the gathering that so far, more than ₹4.25 lakh crore has been deposited into the accounts of crores of such farmers. PM Modi specifically pointed out that approximately 19 lakh farmers in Assam alone have received nearly ₹8,000 crore till date. “This is something even the developed nations of the world cannot match , with one click, money reaches crores of farmers directly,” emphasized Shri Modi.
“Today, the Samman Nidhi scheme has become a medium of social security for the small farmers of the nation,” remarked Shri Modi. The Prime Minister asserted that for the current government, nothing is more important than the welfare of farmers. He remarked that in the last 10 years, farmers have received more than Rs. 20 lakh crore in MSP.
The Prime Minister stated that over the past 11 years, the current government has woven a strong protective shield around the country’s farmers. PM Modi highlighted that whether it is MSP, affordable loans, crop insurance, or PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, these schemes have become a massive support system for farmers. The Prime Minister further noted that the government has been careful to ensure that the impact of international crises does not affect farming and agriculture. Shri Modi recalled that due to the COVID pandemic and subsequent wars, fertilizer prices in the international market had multiplied several times, and procuring fertilizers from foreign markets had become extremely difficult. The Prime Minister emphasized that the Central Government made every effort to shield farmers from this crisis. He pointed out that a bag of urea that costs ₹3,000 in the international market has been provided to Indian farmers at just ₹300 by the government. “The government has spent more than ₹12 lakh crore from its own treasury to ensure that the burden of global fertilizer price hikes does not fall on our farmers,” emphasized Shri Modi.
The Prime Minister highlighted that in the past decade, the current government has undertaken a monumental initiative towards self-reliance. PM Modi stated that self-reliance has been promoted to protect agriculture from external crises. The Prime Minister observed that in independent India, it has been seen repeatedly that wars in other parts of the world or disruptions in supply chains would cause hardship to Indian farmers, sometimes fertilizers would become expensive, sometimes the prices of diesel and energy would soar.
The Prime Minister stated that the government’s vision is to connect farming with new technology, link farmers with new methods of irrigation, and ensure that crops also benefit. PM Modi noted that with this intent, the government adopted the policy of ‘Per Drop More Crop’ and brought micro-irrigation technologies such as drip and sprinkler systems to farmers. The Prime Minister highlighted that this has improved irrigation and also reduced costs. Shri Modi informed that the government is now working to connect farms with solar pumps to minimize farmers’ expenditure on diesel. The Prime Minister mentioned that the Kusum Yojana launched by the Centre is designed precisely for this purpose. “Many farmers today are not only irrigating through solar pumps but are also generating electricity and earning money from it,” asserted Shri Modi.
The Prime Minister stated that the government is making continuous efforts to reduce farmers’ dependence on fertilizers and pesticides. The Prime Minister noted that the current government revived fertilizer factories and several initiatives have been undertaken to connect farmers with Nano Urea, and today the country’s farmers are reaping its benefits. Shri Modi further stated that the current government is now encouraging farmers to adopt natural farming. “When farmers adopt natural farming on a massive scale, the soil will remain safe and our Annadatas will be protected from global crises as well,” emphasized Shri Modi.
The Prime Minister stated that the current government is working tirelessly for farmers and making the country self-reliant. Shri Modi highlighted that the current government has worked for the development of India’s refineries and the expansion of refining capacity. PM Modi stated that today, India is a country that can take care not only of its own energy needs but also of the energy requirements of the world. The Prime Minister noted that the refineries in Assam have also been expanded over the past years. Shri Modi pointed out that unprecedented investment is being made in gas pipeline infrastructure across Assam and the entire North East. The Prime Minister informed that the upgradation of the Numaligarh-Siliguri pipeline has been completed, and the world’s first second-generation bio-ethanol plant has been established at Golaghat in Assam. “All these projects will bring enormous benefits to this entire region,” emphasized Shri Modi.
The Prime Minister stated that significant work has been done over the past decade to reduce the railways’ dependence on foreign resources and to minimize the import of oil. PM Modi noted that today, nearly the entire rail network of the country is connected through electric routes, and the target of 100 percent electrification will be achieved soon. “Due to railway electrification, the country is saving nearly 1.75 billion litres of diesel, and Assam’s railway network is also being rapidly electrified,” remarked Shri Modi.
The Prime Minister stated that Assam is playing a significant role in fulfilling the nation’s renewable energy commitments. PM Modi noted that the Lower Kopili Hydro Power Project will benefit not just Assam but the entire North East. “These projects worth thousands of crores are creating new avenues of employment for Assam’s youth and are boosting the state’s prosperity,” asserted Shri Modi.
The Prime Minister stated that the identity of the current double engine government lies in its sensitivity and good governance. PM Modi emphasized that the development of every region and every section of society is the government’s priority. The Prime Minister noted that with this very spirit, a major initiative has been taken today for the workers in Assam’s tea gardens. Shri Modi acknowledged that it is their hard work that has strengthened Assam’s global identity and that the fragrance of the tea grown by them has become India’s identity worldwide. The Prime Minister stated that today, the current government is giving these workers both respect and assistance. The Prime Minister congratulated Chief Minister Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma and his entire team for doing commendable work for the families associated with tea gardens. PM Modi noted that the Assam government is now working to end this historic injustice, these families are now receiving their own land, and the path has been cleared for them to receive pucca houses. The Prime Minister observed that women living in tea gardens will especially benefit greatly from this initiative. PM Modi expressed his wish that the children of tea garden worker families should also study well and progress in life, adding that the current government has created all the necessary facilities for this.
The Prime Minister announced that the work of building modern cruise terminals at the famous Nimati Ghat and Bishwanath Ghat has also commenced from today. PM Modi emphasized that this is not merely an infrastructure project , it is a step that will give a new direction to tourism and the local economy in Assam. The Prime Minister stated that the current government has not limited tourism to just sightseeing but has viewed it as a major opportunity for employment and development. PM Modi noted that with this very vision, the possibilities of water tourism on the Brahmaputra River are being expanded. The Prime Minister highlighted that once the cruise terminals are built, cruise operations on the Brahmaputra will advance further, and it will become even easier for tourists from India and around the world to reach Assam. Shri Modi stated that as cruise tourism grows, new employment opportunities will be created for local youth, artisans and handicraft workers will find new markets, and the income of small shopkeepers, boatmen, and people associated with hotels and transport will also increase. “Tourism in Assam is no longer limited to just travel and sightseeing ,it is becoming a new engine of local development and public prosperity,” asserted PM Modi.
The Prime Minister stated that Assam is today emerging as a model for the new future of India’s North East , the Ashtalakshmi. PM Modi noted that the progress of Assam is giving new momentum to the entire North East. Urging every youth and every family, Shri Modi asserted, “We must work together for a Viksit Assam so that Assam emerges as a model state in the nation.”
Source: PIB
