Rajat Sharma, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of India TV.
On the occasion of New Year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took two big decisions for the farmers. In the first cabinet meeting of 2025, it was approved to continue the Prime Minister Crop Insurance Scheme till 2026. If the crop is damaged due to flood, drought or hailstorm, it will be compensated through insurance.
Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan said that now the help of technology will be taken in the settlement of insurance, with this the farmers will be able to get the claim as soon as possible. The government will give Rs 824 crore separately for technology and innovation.
The cabinet has taken another major decision regarding the prices of fertilizers. Now farmers will get a 50 kg bag of DAP for Rs 1350, whatever additional expenses will be borne by the Central Government. For this, the government will give a subsidy of Rs 3850 crore to the companies supplying DAP. The government has decided that advance procurement of DAP will be done this year so that farmers do not face shortage of DAP.
After the cabinet decision, Prime Minister Modi wrote in a tweet that the first decision of the new year is dedicated to the crores of farmer brothers and sisters of the country. This decision of the Modi government has come at a time when farmers of Punjab and Haryana are agitating demanding legal guarantee of MSP. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan said that the matter of agitation by farmer organizations is in the Supreme Court, whatever order the court gives, the government will accept it. Chauhan said that in the new year, the government will move forward with a new resolution for the welfare of farmers and as Agriculture Minister, he will make every possible effort to solve the problems of the farmers.
Shivraj Singh Chauhan may not have said anything on the farmers’ movement, but he is also worried about the deteriorating health of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal. Dallewal has been on fast for 37 days, his condition is worsening day by day. The Supreme Court had ordered the Punjab government to get Dallewal admitted to the hospital within two days, but the leaders of farmer organizations are not ready for this. There is pressure on Punjab government also. Farmer leaders say that Dallewal is not ready to get his treatment until the central government talks to the farmers.
Dallewal’s health is really bad. He needs immediate treatment but it seems no one cares about his life. His fellow agitating farmers should take Dallewal for immediate treatment. They should not be concerned that this will weaken the movement. Dallewal’s life should not be used to subvert the government. If farmers do not do this then Punjab government should take this step immediately. One should not worry that the movement will become more intense. First of all, arrangements should be made to save the life of the elderly leader. This is also the instruction of the Supreme Court. (Rajat Sharma)
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