In the backdrop of demand by farmers for guaranteeing Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their produce, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asserted that new farm laws have opened “new doors of opportunities” and benefits for farmers and that “awareness” was key to progress in life.
Addressing the nation through his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’, Modi touched on the various issues including coronavirus pandemic and need to preserve cultural heritage.
Even as hundreds of farmers continue protest against the Centre’s farm laws which have been described “anti-farmer”, the Prime Minister stressed that these farm laws had broken the shackles of various farmers and begun to lessen their problems.
Giving example of one farmer Jitendra, he said the farmer was not getting full-payment of his produce sold and he made use of new farm laws to receive payment with the intervention of District Magistrate who, according to new farm laws, is mandated to solve payment problem within one month.
“Don’t be carried away by rumours, be aware”, Modi said.
Similarly, Modi gave example of a Haryana farmer Virendra Yadav who he said sold his “parali” to paper mill to earn Rs 1.50 crore in two years. “Jagrukta hi Jeevantata hain”, he said seeking people to be fully aware about developments around them.
The PM said while coronavirus vaccine is still on its way, “any carelessness could be fatal” during the pandemic.
He said pandemic has compelled us to think differently. Modi spoke Abut ‘atmnirbharta’ and for being ‘vocal for local’ paying tribute to the innovations of the young minds in the country.
“We are stepping into winters. The internet is replete with pictures of Cherry Blossom flowers, but they are not from Japan, but from India’s Shillong”, said the Prime Minister.
In the times of the pandemic, he said schools and colleges should work to fortify their alumni network and get connected.
Ahead of Guru Nanak Jayanti on Monday, the Prime Minister said the legacy of ‘langars’ of feeding needy people had continued through the Covid-19 pandemic by Sikh communities.
The PM said as World Heritage Day was still away, the statue of ‘Aanapurna Devi’, stolen from Varanasi temple in 1913, was returning home. Modi said the’ idol which was stolen from Varanas is being returned to India by the Canadian Government.
He said that attempts are being made to digitalise museums and other heritage sites amid the Covid-19 pandemic, including the Ajanta Caves.
The Prime Minister lauded Dr Gaurav Sharma, one of the youngest and newly-elected MPs in New Zealand, who on Wednesday took oath in Sanskrit in the country’s Parliament. Sharma, 33, hailing from Himachal Pradesh’s Hamirpur, was recently elected as the Member of Parliament from the Labour Party for Hamilton West in New Zealand.
Monday, 30 November 2020 | PNS | New Delhi
