NEW DELHI: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mega outreach to farmers on December 25, the birth anniversary of late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Wednesday again expressed hope for an early resolution to the ongoing agitation, reiterating that the government is ready for a discussion at a time and date as per “convenience” of farmers’ unions.
“I am hopeful that farmers’ unions will discuss our request. Whatever they want to add and subtract from the government’s proposal, they should tell us. We’re ready for a discussion at the time and date of their convenience. I am hopeful for a solution,” Tomar said on a day the Confederation of NGOs of Rural India presented him “letters of support to the three Farm Acts signed by 3,13,363 farmers, including 12,895 from Punjab and 1,27,653 from Haryana”.
PM Modi will release the next installment of financial benefit under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) on December 25, which is observed as ‘Sushasan Divas’.
“With the push of a button, the Prime Minister will enable the transfer of more than Rs 18,000 crore to more than 9 crore beneficiary farmer families,” Tomar said.
The Agriculture Minister said that they had estimated about 14 crore farmers in the country but so far 11.04 crore had registered for the scheme.
While the Centre is firm the laws will not be scrapped and has proposed amendments, farmer ‘jathebandis’ and unions continue to be equally firm on their stance demanding a total repeal of the laws. They are also accusing the government of “maligning” their agitation.
However, according to CNRI Secretary General Binod Anand who presented the letters of support to the Agriculture Minister, of the 3,13,363 signatories, 12,895 are from Punjab and 1,27,653 from Haryana.
“There are 14 crore farmers in India out of which around 1.6 crore farmers are from Punjab and Haryana. Those sitting at Singhu border do not represent all farmers in the country.
“We went to several places in Mansa, Bathinda, Ludhiana, Taran Tarn, Amritsar district and contacted several farmers and BKU unions, took their views and learned many things. Farmers in different places have different issues but are scared to come out in open. Despite that, they have given their support to us, around 12,895 are from Punjab,” said Anand.
On December 25, the Prime Minister will also interact with farmers from six different states.
“They will share their experiences on PM-KISAN and also on various other initiatives taken by the government for the welfare of farmers,” said the Agriculture Minister.
Under the PM-KISAN Scheme, a financial benefit of Rs 6,000 per year is provided to the eligible beneficiary farmers, payable in three equal four-monthly installments of Rs 2,000 each. The fund is transferred directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.