Key decisions of Modi 3.0 in first 100 days for farmers and middle class

New Delhi (India), September 15 (ANI): In its third consecutive term, the Modi 3.0 government has rolled out several major initiatives in its first 100 days aimed at improving the livelihoods of farmers and the middle class.

Narendra Modi was sworn in as the Prime Minister of India for the third time on June 9. He began his third term by launching the 17th edition of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) programme.

According to government sources, Rs 20,000 crore has been distributed among 9.3 crore farmers under the scheme and Rs 300,000 crore has been distributed among a total of 120,000-330,000 farmers so far.

At the same time, the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Kharif crops has been increased for the year 2024-25, benefiting farmers by around Rs 2 lakh crore. The PM Modi-led government has also approved the Polavaram Irrigation Project in Andhra Pradesh with an allocation of Rs 12,100 crore.

The Centre has also approved seven major projects with a total outlay of Rs 14,200 crore, including the Digital Agriculture Mission, to improve efficiency and productivity in the agriculture sector.

According to the sources, the draft policy for the new National Cooperation Policy has now been drawn up and is in its final phase.

The sources also said that the National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL) and the Uttarakhand Organic Commodity Board will procure organic produce from farmers in Uttarakhand at farmer-rates under an MoU.

“A suitable portion of the profits will be paid directly into the farmers’ accounts,” they said.

“The conversion of the ethanol production units of cooperative sugar factories to multi-feed facilities will also enable ethanol production from corn,” the sources said.

The Centre has decided to abolish the minimum export price (MEP) for onions and basmati rice and reduce the export duty on onions from 40 per cent to 20 per cent, in a move likely to benefit farmers.

The government has initiated various agriculture programmes and development projects worth Rs 3,300 crore in Jammu and Kashmir.

During his maiden visit to Varanasi in June this year, Prime Minister Modi honoured 30,000 ‘Krishi Sakhis’ of self-help groups for their role in agriculture.

According to sources, the Centre has approved Rs 2,000 crore “Mission Mausam” to create a weather- and climate-resilient India. It has also launched a new fund called ‘Agrisure’, aimed at revolutionizing the agricultural sector and supporting start-ups and rural enterprises.

To ensure the revival of the middle class, the central government has introduced tax cuts. Incomes up to Rs 700,000 are not taxed.

According to the sources, salary payers can save up to Rs 17,500 in taxes. “The standard deduction has been increased to Rs 75,000 and the exemption limit for family pension has been increased to Rs 25,000,” they said.

The government has also ensured that a comprehensive review of the income tax rules will be carried out within six months to make them concise, clear and easy to understand.

A Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) has been introduced, under which government employees with 25 years of service receive 50 percent of their average basic salary as pension.

“The third version of the One Rank, One Pension plan is being implemented for security forces and their families,” the sources said.

The sources said that under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, one crore houses have been constructed under the urban plan, while two crore houses have been approved for construction in rural areas.

“Under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, solar power systems have been installed in over 2.5 lakh houses between June and August 2024. An eco-friendly public transport system will be developed through PM E-Bus service, and for this, approval has been given for purchase of e-buses with assistance of Rs 3,400 crore,” they added. (ANI)