Page 58 - Putting Farmers First

HELP DURING DISTRESS

Agriculture is a risk-laden activity, more so
because some of the risk associated with
natural causes beyond the control of the
farmer. Sometimes, farmers put their blood
and sweat into farming but adverse natural
events and natural disasters wreak havoc.
A key insight of Modi government has
been that there is no one-size-fits-all-
model, and that even natural calamities
can have localised impact and the
government policy must be flexible
enough to cater to such an eventuality.

Modi government has dealt with
such situations with sensitivity by
institutionalising many helpful measures.
For example, the threshold conditions for
paying compensation have been lowered,
covering more farmers. The compensation
amount has been increased and
allocations to State Disaster Relief Fund
have also been raised significantly.

Even during the coronavirus pandemic,
Modi government not only transferred
money to farmers under PM-KISAN
scheme to help them, but also did
massive procurement to benefit farmers.

Locust attacks were also handled with
many measures such as spray vehicles
and helicopters.

51 | Putting Farmers First