Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday listed out the benefits of his Government’s “New Year Gift” to the farmers, Pradhan Mantri Crop Insurance Scheme and called for spreading awareness about it across the country so that at least 50 per cent of the farmers joins it within two years. In his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, Modi also stressed on continued efforts to save the girl child and popularise Khadi even as he spoke about the recently launched ‘Start-Up India’ programme and the upcoming International Fleet Review to be held in Visakhapatnam.
Seeking the “maximum help” from people about spreading awareness regarding the Pradhan Mantri Crop Insurance Scheme, Modi said, “In (the New Year) 2016, the Central Government has given a big gift to the farmers — Pradhan Mantri Crop Insurance Scheme. This scheme has been brought not for the purpose that it should be praised or the Prime Minister should be hailed.”
He said even as asked “Can we take a pledge that we should connect at least 50 per cent of the farmers to this scheme in two yearsIJ”
“In our country, a lot is said in the name of farmers. I don’t want to get involved in that debate,” he said, adding despite the talk regarding crop insurance “not more than 20-25 per cent” of the country's farmers had been able to benefit from such schemes.
Outlining why the scheme this time was different, Modi said the scheme has been made quite extensive and easy and involves use of technology; if something happens to the crop within 15 days after harvest, even then help is assured; and the rate of premium for Kharif crop has been kept 2 per cent while for Rabi crop it is one-and-a-half per cent.
On the girl child issue, Modi said the number of female births in Haryana is rising fast as the 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padao' campaign has brought about a "real" societal change in the State, notorious for female foeticide. He pointed how during the Republic Day celebrations a unique experiment was carried out in Haryana and Gujarat this time.
"Haryana and Gujarat gave importance to the 'daughter'. This year, the most educated girl of a village was invited to unfurl the national tricolor in a Government school. Well educated 'daughter' was given special importance," he said, adding the two States had tried to send out a great message with regard to the 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padao' campaign.
In Haryana, Modi said, one more thing happened."The families, where girls were born in the past year, were given special invitations at Republic Day functions and seated in the front row as VIPs."
The Prime Minister also referred to the 'Start-Up India' scheme rolled out on January 16. He said it had infused new energy among the youth and dispelled the notion earlier that the initiative is limited to the sophisticated area of Information Technology. It has become clear that there are enormous opportunities under this programme in all kinds of sectors and areas, including farming.
He gave some examples of StartUp in farming sector in Sikkim which was recently declared an Organic State and invited more examples of StartUp initiatives.
Modi also talked about cleanliness and beautification efforts being made at railway stations, bus stands, temples, mosques and churches in the country as also the upcoming South Asian Games to be held in Guwahati and board examinations for Class X and XII.
He also appealed to the people to keep statues clean as a mark of respect to departed leaders and referred to the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, which was on Saturday, saying people should every year observe a two-minute silence at 11 pm in the memory of the country's martyrs.
He talked about popularising Khadi regarding which he had issued an appeal in his first 'Mann Ki Baat' programme in October 2014. He, once again, asked people to have at least one set of Khadi clothing as part of their wardrobe.
With regard to the five-day International Fleet Review beginning February 4 in Visakhapatnam, Modi said Naval assets from several countries across the world will participate in the event being hosted by India. It is of major significance and importance in the maritime history, he added.
He also had a word of advice for students who would appear in the upcoming board examinations: Appear without tension or anxiety. He asked the successful students of last year to send their examples to him so that he could publicise them and the students appearing now could learn how to appear without tension.
He said people can listen to the 'Mann Ki Baat' episodes again on their cell phones by giving a missed call to the number 8190881908.