Will provide relief to farmers through crop insurance scheme: Modi

Addressing the 16th edition of Mann Ki Baat on AlR, Mr Modi said, this was a huge gift to farmers. “In India, the very religion of non-violence lays in Khadi and so does the development of farmers”, the Prime Minister said.

Modi spoke of the International Solar Alliance and said that people from various parts of India were writing to him about how “Solar Charkhas” have made an impact in their lives.

Highlighting the importance of “khadi”, Modi said that it has the power to provide employment to crores of people.

The Centre plans to harness solar energy to power spinning wheels across the country in a bid to make hand-woven khadi the zero-carbon footprint green fabric of India. As per the scheme, there will be a uniform premium of only 2% to be paid by farmers for all Kharif crops and 1.5% for all Rabi crops. This is also the first time that he would interacting with people this year in 2016.

He said a target to achieve sex ratio above 950 within the next six months has now been set for the entire state. “This step taken by them is a great example of “Beti Bachao, Beti Badhao” scheme”, said Modi.

Next, the prime minister called out to the citizens who were voluntarily beautifying railway stations across India with “graffiti, paintings, attractive & artistic sign boards, things that spread awareness”.

In his monthly radio address Mann Ki Baat, the prime minister expressed concern over the fact that only 20 to 25 percent farmers have so far been covered under the crop insurance schemes.

Modi ended his speech by mentioning the upcoming South Asian Games to be held in Guwahati, Assam.