India News

PM reaches out to farmers across India, aims to double farmers’ income by 2022

Published

8 years ago

June 20, 2018

PM reaches out to farmers across India, aims to double farmers' income by 2022

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]PM Narendra Modi for the first time interacted directly with farmers across the country via video conferencing on Wednesday, June 20, laying stress on government’s efforts to double farmers income and fix Minimum Support Price (MSP)at 1.5 times of cost.

During a video-conference interaction, 24 farmers from nine states narrated their success stories to the prime minister and spoke how they benefited from government schemes on crop insurance, soil health, micro-irrigation, electronic national agriculture market, farm mechanisation and the establishment of farmer producer companies.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]The conference was broadcasted live on Narendra Modi Mobile App ‘NaMo app’, Doordarshan DD NewsLive, DD Kissan, and Akashvani and the All India Radio (AIR).

“For the first time, the Prime Minister is going to have a direct dialogue with farmers across the country, in which various initiatives related to doubling the income of farmers by 2022 will also be discussed,” Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Radha Mohan Singh said on Wednesday.

Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Gajendra Singh Shekhawat described the initiative as “historical”.

Progressive stories from farmers, unprecedented progress says PM

The farmers also told the Prime Minister how their incomes grew manifold in the past few years aided by new technologies and advice from local Krishi Vigyan Kendras.

India’s farm sector witnessed an “unprecedented progress” in the past few years due to record production of crops and various farmer welfare schemes launched by the government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

“Compared to the last four years of the previous government the budget for agriculture has nearly doubled to Rs 2,12,000 crore and this shows our intent for farmer’s welfare,” PM Modi told farmers.

He added that the government is working towards its goal of doubling farmer incomes by 2022 despite an “environment of hopelessness” spread by critics.

“The measures we took are aimed at minimising costs of cultivation, protecting farmers against crop loss and ensuring they get the right price for their produce,” Modi said, adding, “in the budget this year we took a big decision by announcing that crop support prices will be fixed at 50% over production costs.”

Modi’s outreach to farmers, who have been blighted by drought and a collapse in crop prices in the first four years of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, comes ahead of crucial state polls this year and the general elections next year.

Woman farmers of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh shared their experiences

While women farmers from tribal areas of Chhattisgarh explained how they earned more through value addition of perishable produce and use of subsidized drip irrigation, those from Madhya Pradesh narrated how rearing local ‘Kadaknath’ variety of chickens changed their lives.

Farmer producer companies set up in Maharashtra explained how they were reaching consumers directly with packaged pulses, while farmers from drought-hit Karnataka said compensation from the prime minister’s flagship crop insurance scheme helps their tide over losses.

Following consecutive years of drought in 2014-15 and 2015-16, and successive years of record harvests in 2016-17 and 2017-18, farmers in several states hit the streets demanding higher crop prices and a waiver of loans. Upcoming elections in agrarian states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh are likely to intensify these protests.

The country is not just witnessing record food grain production but milk, fruit, and vegetable output too are at all-time highs.

Some highlights of Modi’s address to the farmers:

Indian farmers witnessed unprecedented progress in the past few years
Our government is working tirelessly for our farming community
We have made efforts to ensure that farmers get adequate price for their produce. Our commitment towards that finds expression in this year’s budget
The government has doubled the budget for agriculture to Rs 2.12 lakh crore to achieve its objective of doubling farm income by 2022 and
Soil health cards are being provided to help farmers better understand soil nutrient status of his/her holding and advice them on the dosage of fertilisers.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

3 dead, several trapped after six-storey building collapses in Delhi, rescue operations continue

Three people died and two were critically injured after a six-storey PG building collapsed in Delhi’s Satya Niketan. Several others are feared trapped.

Published

16 mins ago

September 6, 2026

APNLive Desk

Three people have died and two others are critically injured after a six-storey building collapsed in Delhi’s Satya Niketan on Sunday afternoon. Several more people are feared trapped under the debris as rescue operations continue at the site.

Nine people have been rescued so far, while authorities are searching for others who may still be trapped. The building, which was being used as a 75-bed paying guest accommodation, collapsed at around 1:30 pm, according to officials.

Building was being used as a PG accommodation

According to police, the building was around 40 to 50 years old and consisted of a basement and five upper floors. It was being used as a paying guest accommodation, with repair work reportedly underway in the basement when the collapse occurred.

The building was located in Satya Niketan, near Delhi University’s South Campus, an area with a large student population.

An eyewitness said at least 50 students were believed to have been inside the building when it collapsed. A student at the scene also reported hearing cries for help from beneath the rubble.

Rescue operation underway

Teams from the Delhi Police, National Disaster Response Force, Delhi Fire Service and Delhi Disaster Management Authority have been deployed for the rescue operation.

At least 12 fire tenders have been sent to the spot. An excavator has also been deployed, while additional machinery is being brought in to remove concrete slabs and girders from the debris.

Locals were also seen helping with the initial search before rescue teams and machinery reached the site.

The adjacent building has been vacated as a precautionary measure, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said. She added that rescue work was being carried out on a war footing and that authorities were coordinating efforts to assist those affected.

Government agencies coordinate rescue efforts

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu said concerned agencies, including the Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Service and DDMA, had been directed to work together to ensure swift rescue operations.

Local BJP MLA Anil Sharma, who was at the site, said some students were still believed to be trapped and that some were reportedly making calls from inside the collapsed structure.

AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj blamed alleged corruption for the incident and raised questions about building safety and inspections. His comments were political allegations and no official cause for the collapse has been established in the report.

India News

PM Modi takes aim at critics with Dimagi Naxal remark at SRCC centenary address

PM Modi revived his dimagi Naxal remark at SRCC’s centenary celebrations and spoke about India’s development journey.

Published

9 hours ago

September 6, 2026

APNLive Desk

Prime Minister Narendra Modi revived his ‘dimagi Naxal’ remark while addressing the centenary celebrations of Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) in Delhi on Saturday, using the term to criticise his opponents.

Speaking to students at the Delhi college, PM Modi described the phrase as a “homeopathic pill” and said it had prompted those he described as “dimagi Naxals” to come forward and reveal their views.

The prime minister also used his address to speak to Gen-Z about India’s development journey and asked students to consider the challenges the country had faced in the past.

PM Modi recalls past crises

During his speech, PM Modi referred to the 2013 Kedarnath disaster and the 2008 global financial crisis while criticising the handling of national emergencies by previous governments.

He said the government at the time of the Kedarnath disaster was shaken and questioned its ability to respond to the crisis.

Referring to the 2008 banking crisis, PM Modi alleged that the government of the time failed to effectively deal with the situation and claimed that India’s banking system was pushed close to collapse.

Prime minister lists challenges faced by his government

PM Modi also highlighted several major global crises that occurred during his government’s tenure.

He mentioned the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, disruptions to global trade and supply chains, and the crisis in West Asia.

The prime minister said there had been concerns that India would struggle during these crises but argued that the country had continued to move forward.

PM Modi’s earlier SRCC visit

PM Modi had earlier visited SRCC in 2013, when he was the chief minister of Gujarat. His speech at the college received significant attention, particularly on social media, ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha election.

His latest visit came during the college’s centenary celebrations, where his address focused on young people, India’s development ambitions and the challenges faced by the country.

India News

India Metro Rail Network May Overtake US in 2 Years

India’s metro rail network has reached 1,170 km across 26 cities. Union minister Manohar Lal said the country could overtake the US in network length within two years.

Published

23 hours ago

September 5, 2026

APNLive Desk

India is on track to become the country with the second-largest metro rail network in the world after China, with Union Minister Manohar Lal saying the country could overtake the United States within the next two years.

India’s metro rail network has now expanded to 1,170 km across 26 cities. The network is only 216 km shorter than the US metro rail network, which stands at 1,386 km, according to figures cited by the minister.

India’s metro network expands rapidly

Speaking after the inauguration of an extended metro service in Indore, Manohar Lal highlighted the pace at which metro connectivity has grown in India.

He said metro services were operational across just 245 km in five cities when Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office in 2014. The network has since expanded to 1,170 km across 26 cities.

The minister said India could overtake the US in terms of metro rail network length in the next two years and become the world’s second-largest country in this segment after China.

China currently has around 8,000 km of metro rail lines, according to the figures cited by the minister.

Indore metro extension inaugurated

The minister made the remarks after inaugurating an extended section of the Indore metro. The project was built at a cost of around Rs 2,850 crore.

The Indore metro was earlier operating commercially on a six-km stretch between Gandhi Nagar and Super Corridor-3 stations. Following the extension, the service will operate on a 17-km route between Gandhi Nagar and Malviya Nagar Chauraha.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the metro service would mark a new phase in Indore’s development. He also said the network would eventually be extended to Ujjain and other nearby areas.