Farmers form a key voter bloc that could influence election results
Moneycontrol News
In a bid to gain support ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is weighing three options to ease agrarian distress in the country, according to a report by Bloomberg.
The Centre is considering a monthly income support program for farmers, a cash handout plan for the shortfall between the sale price and procurement rate set by the state, and a revamped crop insurance program, the report suggests.
The report adds that the government is expected to take up either of the three options or a combination of them.
Among the tree options, the income support program involves paying a certain amount as payout each month. The programme is expected to benefit around 150 million farm households, the report suggests.
Another alternative is the cash handout, which could be given to farmers in case their produce sells at a discount to the rates set by the government.
A plan to revamp the crop insurance program is also being considered. Under this, the Centre may list more crops to avail state benefits, reduce the premium paid by farmers and include tenant farmers under the cover, the report adds.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost three ‘Hindi heartland’ states -- Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan -- to Congress in December 2018. Congress had fought the elections on the promise of farm loan waiver, among others.
Farmers form a key voter bloc that could influence election results.
