UPA removes burden from farmers

The Prime Minister has said the UPA government through unprecedented and historic debt relief package has finally removed the burden of the NDA regime from the shoulders of the farmers. Replying to a marathon debate in both houses of Parliament on the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address Dr Manmohan Singh said that the process of implementing the loan waiver will be completed by June this year .He said that it will be well-funded package and the details will be worked out. On concerns of the members regarding the loans taken by farmers from money lenders, he said a scheme already exists to address this problem.

The Prime Minister charged the previous NDA government with totally ignoring the interest of the farming community while asserting the commitment of the UPA government to give agriculture a new dynamism and farmers a life of dignity. He said the government has given top priority to agriculture and in the last four years 4.2 percent growth was registered in the year 2007-08. Describing inflation as the worst enemy of the poor, he said the government has not raised the prices of food grains meant for BPL and APL families under Public Distribution System. He said despite three-fold increase in crude prices in the international markets, the government has not increased the price of kerosene and LPG. He also said that the government is committed to keep the prices of essential commodities under reasonable control. Dr Manmohan Singh also assured that he will convene a meeting of all political parties to arrive at a broad consensus on the issue of women reservation after 20th March.