Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government as 'sensitive and timely' in response to the distress caused by unseasonal rains to farmers.
"The government has gone forward with great sensitivity at a time when Indian farmers, particularly in the unseasonal rains affected states are in terrible distress," Sitharaman told the media.
"It is a very well received, timely and required step that the government has taken.
The Central Government did not waste any time. As soon as they had a clear picture of the extent of damage, the PM took a call and therefore a decision which is much necessary in terms of the quantum of relief and extent of coverage of the number of farmers who will benefit from it", she added.
Taking a dig at the previous UPA Government, Sitharaman said, "In a similar situation when the earlier government was in power, a comparable initiative was not taken. And, I'm not talking about 'they v/s us', but the fact is that this govt has gone ahead in giving a very sensitive and timely response."
Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that his government will increase the compensation provided to affected farmers by 50 percent, as well as bring down the threshold of crop damage that allows farmers to seek government assistance, from 50 percent to 33 percent.
India has been experiencing more extreme rainfall events as the global climate warms, revealed a study of 50 years of data by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology.