In a captivating moment at the Rajya Sabha, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar has bestowed a new accolade upon Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, now known as 'Farmers' Beloved'. During Friday's question hour, Dhankhar honorably christened the minister with this affectionate title amidst discussions centered around agriculture and farmers' welfare.
The topic arose when Congress MP Jairam Ramesh vocalized concerns regarding farmers' march to Delhi, prompting inquiries about the government's stance on MSP and the agriculture minister's perspective. Chairman Dhankhar reassuringly responded to Ramesh's questions, emphasizing the close collaboration with Minister Shivraj, both on arrival and departure from the session.
Chairman Dhankhar remarked with assurance, referring to the minister's transformed identity from a 'beloved daughter' to 'Farmers' Beloved', summarizing with, 'Today, I have officially conferred this title upon you, Shivraj.'
In response to Jairam Ramesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan confidently stated, 'Our clear stance is to fix the Minimum Support Price by adding 50% to the cost, and we will purchase accordingly. We are dedicated to serving farmers with utmost commitment.' RJD's Manoj Jha questioned the framework for farmer debt waiver schemes. In a poised reply, Shivraj detailed plans to boost production, reduce costs, compensate crop losses through insurance, and enhance farmers' incomes, making them self-sufficient and eliminating the need for debt relief.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan further addressed MP Jos K Mani's concerns on bridging the income gap for farmers, asserting, 'Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy, and farmers are its soul. The previous omission of 'farmers welfare' in the ministry name has been rectified, and the government remains dedicated to farmers' prosperity with unparalleled budget increases.'
The agriculture minister discussed the six-point program designed for farmers' welfare. On the topic of MSP, Chouhan clarified that it operates as a safety net when crop prices fall below a threshold, not necessary when prices soar. He discussed purchasing statistics from both UPA and NDA tenures, assuring the assembly that products would indeed be bought at MSP, reiterating steadfast government support.
