Crop Residue Burning Declines in Gurdaspur, Punjab Farmers Thanks PM Modi

On January 8, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in a virtual interaction with participants of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra. The event saw the participation of numerous beneficiaries from various regions of the country, accompanied by Union Ministers, Members of Parliament (MPs), Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs), and representatives at the local level.

Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra

Hamara Sankalp Viksit Bharat is a national campaign aimed at raising awareness through outreach activities. Its goal is to achieve the saturation of Government of India schemes across the country, covering all gram panchayats, nagar panchayats, and urban local bodies

The campaign adopts a comprehensive government approach, actively involving various Ministries, Departments of the Government of India; State Governments; Central Government Organizations; and Institutions. This aims to ensure the widest possible participation for the benefit of citizens and to realize the vision of Viksit Bharat.

Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra Community Building and Govt. Support

During the interaction, Gurwinder Singh Bajwa from Gurdaspur, Punjab, conveyed to PM Modi that the primary achievement of the Viksit Bharat journey is the collective organization of farmers into smaller groups, aiming to secure the most advantageous deals within the agricultural sector.

He highlighted his farmers' group's focus on adopting pesticide-free farming, facilitated by machinery subsidies. This initiative significantly aided small-scale farmers in managing crop residue (parali) and maintaining soil health.

Bajwa also reported a considerable reduction in parali burning incidents in Gurdaspur, attributing this progress to government support. Furthermore, he mentioned ongoing activities related to Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) in the region and how the Custom Hiring Scheme has been beneficial to small farmers within a 50-kilometer radius.

"Now the farmer is feeling that he will get proper support", Bjawa stated.

Hopes from the Government

The farmers expressed their confidence in the current government and indicated their high hopes, citing the popular slogan 'Modi hai to Mumkin Hai' (Modi Makes It Possible) from the 2019 Lok Sabha Election. Prime Minister Modi acknowledged their optimism and expressed gratitude, emphasizing that their compliance with his requests makes achieving these goals possible.

Reiterating his call for sustainable agriculture, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of farming practices aligned with the teachings of revered Gurus and the preservation of Mother Earth. "We should do farming as per the advice of our Gurus and protect Mother Earth. There is nothing beyond the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev in the field of farming", he said.

Addressing the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, the Prime Minister affirmed, "The 'Modi ki Guarantee ki Gadi' (Modi's commitment journey) will persist until every single beneficiary is reached."