PM promises help to farmers affected by unseasonal rains

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today promised all possible help shortly to farmers who suffered crop loss due to recent unseasonal rains, saying the damage is being assessed.
"The recent unseasonal rains in the states north of Maharashtra have caused problems and everywhere farmers are worried. Small farmers, who toil hard to grow crops to earn livelihood for the year, have lost everything," he said in his address to farmers over radio in his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' programme.
"In this hour of crisis, I am with you. All departments in my government are in touch with states to assess the situation minutely. Union Ministers have also spread out to states to assess the damage," he added.

The Prime Minister said he has told states also that the Centre and states should collectively help these farmers as much as possible.
"I can assure you that, in this hour of crisis, the government will soon help you sympathetically. Whatever is possible, will be done," he said.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi had visited areas affected by unseasonal rains in BJP-ruled Rajasthan and Haryana and demanded that the farmers get timely compensation for the losses.

During the programme, Modi today talked about the initiatives taken by his government for the welfare of farmers and defended the changes being brought in the Land Acquisition Act.

He said government had introduced 'Soil Health Card' which is aimed at scaling up production by making assessment of land.
Steps are also being taken to ensure that farmers get the right price for their produce in mandis.
To ensure that excess produce is not wasted, storage facilities are being improved, he said.