New crop insurance scheme will transform farmers' lives: PM Narendra Modi

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today expressed confidence that the new Crop Insurance Scheme will bring about a major transformation in the lives of farmers, saying it expands the definition of disaster and addresses whatever was lacking in the existing programmes.

"Farmer brothers and sisters, at a time when you are celebrating festivals like Lohri, Pongal and Bihu, the government has given you a gift in the form of Prime Minister's Crop Insurance Scheme," he tweeted hours after the Cabinet cleared the proposal.

"This is a historic day. I am confident that this scheme, which is inspired by the consideration of farmers' benefit, will bring about a major transformation to the lives of farmers," Modi added.

In a series of tweets, the Prime Minister said the scheme includes successful aspects of the existing schemes and "effectively addresses" whatever was lacking in those schemes.

"The scheme has the lowest premium, it entails easy usage of technology like mobile phone, quick assessment of damage and disbursement within a timeframe," he said.

The definition of disaster has been expanded to include aspects like flooding of crop and damage after harvest, Modi said, adding "special attention" has been paid to several other aspects.

"It is easy to subscribe to the scheme and easy to benefit. So, do join it," he told the farming community which is in distress and many of whom have been committing suicide.