Finance
In line with his commitment towards ensuring Farmers welfare, the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today released the 19th instalment of PM KISAN from Bhagalpur, Bihar. He also launched many development projects during the occasion. Shri Modi welcomed all the dignitaries and the people who had joined the event virtually. He said it was a great fortune to step in the land of Mandarachal during the holy period of Maha Kumbh. He added that this place had spirituality, heritage as well as the potential for Viksit Bharat as well. Shri Modi remarked that it was the land of martyr Tilka Manjhi as well as renowned as Silk city. He added that there were preparations for the upcoming Maha Shivaratri too in the holy land of Baba Ajgaibinath. He said that he was fortunate to release the 19th instalment of PM KISAN during such a pious moment and around ₹22,000 crore was credited directly into the bank accounts of farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer.
The Prime Minister noted that there were around 75 lakh farmer families from Bihar who were beneficiaries of the PM KISAN scheme, whose 19th instalment was released today. He added that around ₹1,600 crore was credited directly into the bank accounts of Bihar farmers today. He extended his warm greetings to all the farmer families from Bihar and other parts of the country.
Reiterating the words from his speech at Red fort, Shri Modi said, “there are four main pillars of Viksit Bharat: poor, farmers, youth and women”. He added that whether it is the Central or the State Government, the welfare of farmers remains a priority. “We worked with full force to solve every problem of the farmers in the last decade”, said Shri Modi. He noted that farmers need good seeds, sufficient and affordable fertilizers, irrigation facilities, protection for their livestock from diseases, and safety from losses during disasters. Previously, farmers were plagued by these issues. The Prime Minister stated that their Government has changed this situation, highlighting that in recent years, hundreds of modern seed varieties have been provided to farmers. Earlier, farmers had to struggle for urea and face black marketing, while today, farmers receive sufficient fertilizers, he added. Shri Modi highlighted that even during the major crisis of the pandemic, the Government ensured no shortage of fertilizers for farmers. Remarking that if their Government had not been elected, then the farmers would still be struggling for fertilizers. He emphasized that the Barauni fertilizer plant would still be closed, and fertilizers that are available to Indian farmers for less than ₹300 per bag are being sold for ₹3,000 per bag in many countries. The Prime Minister highlighted that their Government has ensured that urea bags, which would have cost ₹3,000, are available at an affordable price today. He stated that the Government is committed to the welfare of farmers and works for their benefit. The cost of urea and DAP, which farmers would have had to bear, is being covered by the central government, he added. Shri Modi said that over the past 10 years, the central government had provided approximately ₹12 lakh crore, which would have otherwise come from the pockets of the farmers. This has saved a significant amount of money for crores of farmers across the country, he added.
Asserting that farmers would not have received the benefits of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, if their Government was not elected, the Prime Minister highlighted that in the six years since the scheme’s inception, approximately ₹3.7 lakh crore has been directly transferred to farmers’ accounts. Shri Modi emphasized that small farmers, who previously did not receive the full benefits of Government schemes, are now getting their due. He stated that intermediaries used to exploit the rights of small farmers, but he assured under his leadership and that of Shri Nitish Kumar, this will not be allowed to happen. The Prime Minister contrasted this with the previous governments, highlighting that the amount his Government has directly transferred to farmers’ bank accounts far exceeds the agricultural budget allocated by the previous Governments. He emphasized that such efforts can only be undertaken by a Government dedicated to the welfare of farmers and not by corrupt entities.
Shri Modi said that the previous dispensations did not care about the hardships faced by farmers. He noted that in the past, when floods, droughts, or hailstorms occurred, farmers were left to fend for themselves. He highlighted that after their Government received the people’s blessings in 2014, he declared that this approach would not continue. Their Government introduced the PM Fasal Bima Yojana, under which farmers have received claims worth ₹1.75 lakh crore during disasters, he added.
The Prime Minister said that their Government was promoting animal husbandry to increase the income of landless and small farmers. He highlighted that animal husbandry is helping to create “Lakhpati Didis” in villages and so far, around 1.25 crore Lakhpati Didis were created across the country, including thousands of Jeevika Didis in Bihar. “India’s milk production has increased from 14 crore tons to 24 crore tons over the past decade, strengthening India’s position as the world’s number one milk producer”, said Shri Modi lauding Bihar’s significant role in this achievement. He highlighted that cooperative milk unions in Bihar purchase 30 lakh liters of milk per day, resulting in over ₹3,000 crore annually being transferred to the accounts of livestock farmers, mothers, and sisters in Bihar.
Expressing his satisfaction that the efforts to promote the dairy sector are being skillfully advanced by Shri Rajiv Ranjan, the Prime Minister highlighted that two projects in Bihar are progressing rapidly due to their efforts. He mentioned that the Center of Excellence in Motihari will aid in the development of superior indigenous cattle breeds. Additionally, the milk plant in Barauni will benefit three lakh farmers in the region and provide employment opportunities for the youth, he added.
Criticising the previous governments for not helping the fishermen and boatmen, Shri Modi highlighted that, for the first time, their Government had provided Fishermen with Kisan Credit Cards. He emphasized that due to such efforts, Bihar has made remarkable progress in fish production. Ten years ago, Bihar was among the top 10 fish-producing states in the country, but today, Bihar has become one of the top five fish-producing states in India, he said. The Prime Minister noted that the focus on the fisheries sector has significantly benefited small farmers and fishermen. He mentioned that Bhagalpur is also known for the Ganga dolphins, which is a significant success of the Namami Gange campaign.
“Our Government’s efforts in recent years have significantly increased India’s agricultural exports”, said the Prime Minister. As a result, he added that the farmers are now receiving higher prices for their produce. Several agricultural products, which were never exported before, are now reaching international markets, he said. Shri Modi highlighted that it is now time for Bihar’s Makhana to enter the global market. He noted that Makhana has become a popular part of breakfast in Indian cities and is considered a superfood. He said the formation of a Makhana Board for Makhana farmers announced in this year’s budget will assist farmers in every aspect, including Makhana production, processing, value addition, and marketing.
Mentioning another significant initiative for the farmers and youth of Bihar in the budget, Shri Modi highlighted that Bihar is set to become a major center for the food processing industry in Eastern India. He announced the establishment of the National Institute of Food Technology and Entrepreneurship in Bihar. Additionally, three new Centers of Excellence in agriculture will be established in the state. One of these centers will be set up in Bhagalpur, focusing on the Jardalu variety of mangoes, the other two centers will be established in Munger and Buxar, providing assistance to tomato, onion, and potato farmers, he added. Shri Modi emphasized that the Government was leaving no stone unturned in making decisions that benefit farmers.
“India is becoming a major exporter of textiles”, said Shri Modi and highlighted that numerous steps are being taken to strengthen the textile industry in the country. He noted that in Bhagalpur, it is often said that even the trees produce gold. Bhagalpuri silk and tussar silk are renowned throughout India, and the demand for tussar silk is continuously increasing in other countries as well, he added. The Prime Minister emphasized that the Central government is focusing on infrastructure development for the silk industry, including fabric and yarn dyeing units, fabric printing units, and fabric processing units. These initiatives will provide modern facilities to the weavers of Bhagalpur, enabling their products to reach every corner of the world, he said.
Shri Modi remarked that the Government was addressing one of Bihar’s major issues by constructing numerous bridges over rivers to resolve transportation difficulties. He highlighted that insufficient bridges have caused many problems for the state. He emphasized that rapid progress is being made in building a four-lane bridge over the Ganga River, with more than ₹1,100 crore being spent on this project.
Remarking that Bihar faces significant losses due to floods, the Prime Minister highlighted that the Government had approved projects worth thousands of crores to address this issue. He mentioned that in this year’s budget the support for the Western Kosi Canal ERM Project, which will bring 50,000 hectares of land in the Mithilanchal region under irrigation, will benefit lakhs of farming families.
“Our government is working on multiple levels to increase farmers’ income”, said the Prime Minister highlighting the efforts to boost production, achieve self-reliance in pulses and oilseeds, establish more food processing industries, and ensure that Indian farmers’ produce reaches global markets. He shared his vision that every kitchen in the world should have at least one product grown by Indian farmers. He noted that this year’s budget supports this vision through the announcement of the PM Dhan Dhanya Yojana. Under this scheme, 100 districts with the lowest crop production will be identified, and special campaigns will be launched to promote agriculture in these areas, he added. He also emphasized that mission-mode work will be carried out to achieve self-reliance in pulses, with incentives for farmers to grow more pulses and increased MSP procurement.
Remarking that today is a very special day, the Prime Minister highlighted that the Government had set a target to establish 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) in the country, and it has now achieved this goal. He shared his happiness that Bihar is witnessing the establishment of the 10,000th FPO. This FPO, registered in Khagaria district, focuses on maize, banana, and paddy, he added. He emphasized that FPOs are not just organizations but an unprecedented force to increase farmers’ income. Shri Modi noted that FPOs provide small farmers with direct access to significant market benefits. Opportunities that were previously unavailable are now accessible to our farmer brothers and sisters through FPOs. The Prime Minister mentioned that approximately 30 lakh farmers in the country are connected to FPOs, with around 40 percent of them being women. These FPOs are now conducting business worth thousands of crores in the agricultural sector, he said. He extended his congratulations to all the members of the 10,000 FPOs.
Touching upon the Government’s focus on the industrial development of Bihar, Shri Modi highlighted that the Bihar government is setting up a large power plant in Bhagalpur, which will receive ample coal supply. He emphasized that the central government has approved coal linkage for this purpose. He expressed confidence that the electricity generated here will provide new energy for Bihar’s development and create new employment opportunities for the youth of Bihar.
“The rise of a Viksit Bharat will begin with Purvodaya”, said Shri Modi, emphasizing that Bihar is the most important pillar of Eastern India and a symbol of India’s cultural heritage. He criticized the long misrule of the previous dispensation, which he claimed had ruined and defamed Bihar. He expressed confidence that in a developed India, Bihar will regain its position akin to ancient prosperous Pataliputra. The Prime Minister highlighted the continuous efforts being made towards this goal. He noted that their Government is committed to modern connectivity, road networks, and public welfare schemes in Bihar. He announced that a new highway from Munger to Bhagalpur to Mirza Chauki, costing approximately ₹5,000 crore, is being constructed. Additionally, the widening of the four-lane road from Bhagalpur to Anshdihwa is set to begin, he added. He also mentioned that the Indian government has also approved a new rail line and rail bridge from Vikramshila to Kataria.
Prime Minister remarked that Bhagalpur has been culturally and historically significant, highlighting that during the era of Vikramshila University, it was a global center of knowledge. He noted that the Government had initiated efforts to link the ancient glory of Nalanda University with modern India. Following Nalanda, a central university is being established at Vikramshila and the central government will soon commence work on this project, he added. He extended congratulations to Shri Nitish Kumar and the entire Bihar government team for their swift efforts to meet the needs of this project.
“Our Government is working together to preserve India’s glorious heritage and build a prosperous future”, said Shri Modi. He highlighted that the Maha Kumbh is currently taking place in Prayagraj, which is the largest festival of India’s faith, unity, and harmony. He noted that more people have bathed in the Maha Kumbh of Unity than the entire population of Europe. The Prime Minister emphasized that devotees from villages across Bihar are attending the Maha Kumbh. He criticized those parties who were insulting and making derogatory remarks about the Maha Kumbh. He noted that the same people who opposed the Ram Temple are now criticizing the Maha Kumbh. The Prime Minister expressed confidence that Bihar will never forgive those who insult the Maha Kumbh. He concluded by expressing that the Government will continue to work tirelessly to lead Bihar onto a new path of prosperity. He extended heartfelt congratulations to the farmers of the country and the residents of Bihar.
The Governor of Bihar, Shri Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister of Bihar, Shri Nitish Kumar, Union Ministers Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Shri Jitan Ram Manji, Shri Giriraj Singh, Shri Lalan Singh, Shri Chirag Paswan, Union Minister of State, Shri Ram Nath Thakur were present among other dignitaries at the event.
Source: PIB
