In a major reprieve for farmers hit by unseasonal rain and storms, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced that compensation for crop damage has been raised and it will be easier to claim financial support from the government.
"The amount of compensation has been increased to 1.5 times. If earlier a farmer was getting Rs 100 as compensation, now he will get Rs 150, if it was Rs 1 lakh, he will get Rs 1.5 lakh... a 50 per cent increase," the prime minister said, speaking at the launch of a micro-finance bank and regulator.
He also said banks have been asked to restructure loans of affected farmers and insurance companies have been asked to settle claims faster.
On Tuesday, union minister Nitin Gadkari toured many of the worst affected areas, and said, in an appeal to farmers, "Don't commit suicide. The government is with you, the prime minister is with you."
PM Modi has argued that the land bill would help create rural jobs, and accused the opposition of spreading lies.
The party discussed an outreach plan where a team of national and state-level BJP leaders will travel across the country to dispel doubts and fears that the land bill will only benefit industry and not farmers.
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