PM Modi Advocates for Womens Empowerment During Interaction with Farmers in Banaskantha

Banaskantha, October 30 (Daily Kiran) : Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged with women farmers and livestock breeders in Banaskantha, Gujarat, on Friday, emphasizing their empowerment as a vital aspect of the agricultural sector. He shared excerpts from the interaction on the social media platform X, stating, “This conversation in Banaskantha will bring you joy. It is heartening to see how agriculture, dairy, and animal husbandry are advancing women’s empowerment.”

Union Minister Piyush Goyal also took to X, posting, “When women lead the way! During the inauguration of the India Bovine Breeding and Research Centre in Banaskantha, Prime Minister Modi spoke with women contributing to India’s agriculture, dairy, and livestock sectors. The scene was truly uplifting.”

BJP National General Secretary Smriti Irani added, “The strength of India lies in its women. PM Modi is interacting with hardworking women at the India Bovine Breeding and Research Centre in Banaskantha, who are transforming our dairy and animal husbandry sectors. Their dedication, resilience, and leadership embody the spirit of a strong, self-reliant India.”

During his visit, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone and inaugurated over ₹14,000 crore worth of national development projects. He met with women in the dairy sector at the research center, reiterating that India’s strength is rooted in its women.

Modi highlighted that Banaskantha is taking significant strides in development, from agriculture and dairy to infrastructure and connectivity. Speaking on the sacred land of Maa Amba shortly after Navratri, he launched several schemes for women, children, farmers, and livestock breeders. He also announced the disbursement of over ₹18,000 crore as a new installment of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi to nearly 10 crore small farmers across the country. More than ₹1,000 crore was deposited into the accounts of over 5 million farmers in Gujarat, with families in Banaskantha receiving nearly ₹50 crore.

The Prime Minister stated that farmers are one of the strongest pillars of a developed India, and the government has consistently prioritized their welfare. He noted that the country’s agricultural budget has more than quintupled since 2013-14, benefiting farmers with over ₹50 lakh crore in savings and profits due to government policies. Approximately ₹4.5 lakh crore has been directly transferred to small farmers’ bank accounts under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi.

In the face of rising global fertilizer prices, Modi assured that the government has spent nearly ₹16 lakh crore to provide relief to farmers. He mentioned that over ₹24 lakh crore has been paid to wheat and rice farmers as Minimum Support Price (MSP) over the past 12 years. Additionally, farmers have received over ₹2 lakh crore in compensation under the PM Crop Insurance Scheme in the last decade. The PM-KUSUM scheme has distributed around 12 lakh solar pumps, saving more than 80 crore liters of diesel.

He concluded by stating that animal husbandry is a crucial pillar of the rural economy, with significant advancements made in dairy and livestock through science and technology over the past decade. “Until my last breath, I will remain dedicated to serving you,” he affirmed.