Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Sunday said the crop insurance scheme is the need of the hour to save farmers.

Reacting to the grant of relief by the Centre to the farmers who were affected during the recent rain and hailstorm in the state, Badal said it was not enough as the compensation for the crop must be rationalised and brought on par with the amount of loss.

The chief minister was here to inaugurate various development projects.

Addressing a press conference later, the chief minister said the farmers of the state had immensely benefited from the NDA government as by accepting the demand of the state government, the Centre had revised the relief norms for the distressed farmers.

Badal said, “Now the farmers are eligible for input subsidy if 33% of their crop has been damaged instead of the earlier 50%. In a big relief to the farmers affected by unseasonal rains and hailstorm in the region, the NDA government has decided to bear the value cut on their harvest. However, it is not enough as the compensation for the crop loss must be rationalised and brought on par with the amount of loss.”

He said that despite all odds the NDA government had done exemplary work in its short span. He lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for launching several pro-poor schemes.

Replying to a query, Badal said the state government was making every effort to ensure that law and order in the state was not disturbed.

The chief minister said the state government was committed to ensuring speedy payments for the VAT refund to traders and industrialists.

Source - www.hindustantimes.com