NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra modi on Monday he said that the two land reform bills passed by Parliament on Sunday were the “necessity of the 21st century” and also assured farmers that the Minimum Livelihood Price (MSP) will continue as before.
“This change in the agricultural sector is the need of the current time and our government has brought this reform to farmers,” said the prime minister during his virtual speech.
The prime minister also asserted that the mandi business will operate as usual and that the approval of these two laws will not affect.
“I want to clarify that this change is not against agricultural mandis. Work on the mandis will continue as before. On the contrary, the NDA government has always strived for the modernization of these mandis, ”he said.
The Prime Minister further said that after these legislations, farmers can freely market their products anywhere.
Prime Minister Modi noted that farmers are already getting a better price for their produce in several states after his government enacted agricultural ordinances.
Farmers remained in chains for a long time, leading to a clique that profited from their “compulsions,” he said, adding that it needed to be changed and that his government has done so.
No government has done as much to boost the MSP and government purchase of agricultural products as its dispensing, the prime minister said.
The government, he said, lifted a record amount of grain amid the coronavirus pandemic and also made a record payment to farmers.
Two key agricultural bills, hailed as the biggest reform in agriculture by the government, were approved Sunday by Rajya Sabha with a voice vote. The two bills were previously approved by Lok Sabha.
Modi made the remarks at a virtual ceremony to lay the foundations for nine road projects in Bihar and to launch fiber optic internet services through which 45,945 villages in the state will be connected.
“Today nine projects have been inaugurated including the construction of six-lane roads and three bridges over the rivers. I congratulate the people of Bihar for achieving these projects. Today it is not only important for Bihar but for the whole country, today India is taking a big step to make their villages a base for Atmanirbhar Bharat and I am happy that it starts from Bihar, “Modi said.
(With inputs from agencies)
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