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இந்தியா-ஸ்ரீலங்கா உறவில் பெளத்தம் எப்போதும் மங்காத ஒரு ஒளியை அளிக்கிறது: பிரதமர் மோடி

Published By : Admin | May 12, 2017 | 10:20 IST
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Most venerable, Maha Naayakonthero of Sri Lanka
Most venerable, Sangarajathairos of Sri Lanka
Distinguished religious and spiritual leaders
Hon’ble President of Sri Lanka, Excellency Maithripala Sirisena
Hon’ble Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Excellency Ranil Wickremesinghe
Hon'ble Speaker of Parliament Excellency Kaaroo Jayasuriya
Most venerable Dr. Brahmin Pandit, President of the International Council for the Day of Vesak
Esteemed Delegates
Friends from the media
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen

Namaskaar.Ayubuvan.

Vesak is most sacred of days.

A day for humanity to revere the birth, the enlightenment and the Parinibbana of Lord Buddha, the "Tathagatha". A day to rejoice in Buddha. A day to reflect on the supreme truthand timeless relevance of Dhamma, and the four noble truths.

A day to contemplate the ten perfections of दान (generosity); सील (proper conduct); नेख्ख्म (renunciation); पिंन्या (wisdom); वीरि (energy); ख्न्न्ती (tolerance); सच्च (truthfulness); अदित्ठान (determination); मेत्ता (loving kindness) and उपेख्खा (equanimity).

It is a day of enormous significance for you here in Sri Lanka, for us in India, and for Buddhists around the world. And, I am most grateful to Excellency President Maithripala Sirisena, Excellency Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the people of Sri Lanka for extending to me the honourto be the Chief Guest at the International Vesak Day festivitiesin Colombo. On this auspicious occasion, I also bring with me the greetings of 1.25 billion people from the land of the Samyaksambuddha,the perfectly self awakened one.

Excellencies, and Friends,

Our region is blessed to have given to the world the invaluable gift of Buddha and his teachings. Bodh Gaya in India, where Prince Siddhartha became the Buddha, is the sacred nucleus of the Buddhist universe. Lord Buddha's first sermon in Varanasi,which I have the honour to represent in the Parliament,set in motion the wheel of Dhamma. Our key national symbols have taken inspiration from Buddhism. Buddhism and its various strandsare deep seated in our governance, cultureand philosophy. The divine fragrance of Buddhism spread from India to all corners of the globe. Mahindra and Sanghamitra, the worthy children of King Ashokamade their journey from India to Sri Lankaas धम्मा दूत to spread the biggest gift of धम्मा.

And, as Buddha had himself said:सब्ब्दानामधम्मादानं जनाती, meaning, the gift of धम्मा is the biggest gift of all. Today, Sri Lanka takes pride in being among the most important nerve centres of Buddhist teachings and learning. Centuries later,Anagarika Dharmapala undertook a similar journey, but this time, from Sri Lanka to India to revive the spirit of Buddhain the land of its origin. In some way, you took us back to our own roots. The world also owes a debt of gratitude to Sri Lanka for preserving some of the most important elements of the Buddhist heritage. Vesak is an occasion for us to celebrate this unbroken shared heritage of Buddhism. A heritage that connects our societies across generations and through centuries.

Friends,

The friendship between India and Sri Lanka was etched in time by the "Great Master". Buddhism imparts an ever present radiance to our relationship. As close neighbours, our relationship spreads across many layers. It draws its strength as much through our interconnected values of Buddhism as it does from the limitless possibilities of our shared future. Ours is a friendship that lives in the hearts of our peopleand in the fabric of our societies.

To honour and deepen our links of Buddhist heritage, I have the great pleasure to announce that from August this year,Air India will operate direct flights between Colombo and Varanasi. This will ease travel to the land of Buddha for my brothers and sisters from Sri Lanka, and help you directly visit Sravasti, Kusinagar, Sankasa, Kaushambi and Sarnath. My Tamil brothers and sisters will also be able to visit Varanasi, the land of Kashi Viswanath. 

Venerable Monks, Excellencies and Friends,

I believe we are at a moment of great opportunity in our ties with Sri Lanka. An opportunity to achieve a quantum jump in our partnership across different fields. And, for us, the most relevant benchmark for the success of our friendship is your progress and success. We are committed to the economic prosperity of our Sri Lankan brothers and sisters. We will continue to invest in driving positive change and economic growth to deepen our development cooperation. Our strength lies in sharing our knowledge, capacity and prosperity. In trade and investment, we are already significant partners. We believe that free flow of trade, investments, technology, and ideas across our borders will be to our mutual benefit. India’s rapid growthcan bring dividends for the entire region, especially in Sri Lanka. In infrastructure and connectivity,transport and energy,we are poised to scale up our cooperation. Our development partnership stretches across nearly every sector of human activity such as agriculture, education, health, resettlement, transport, power, culture, water, shelter, sports, and human resources.

Today,India’s development cooperation with Sri Lankaamounts toUS Dollars 2.6 billion. And, its only aim is to support Sri Lanka in realizing a peaceful, prosperous and secure future for its people. Because, the economic and social well being of the people of Sri Lankais linked with that of 1.25 billion Indians. Because, whether it is on land or in the waters of the Indian Ocean, the security of our societies is indivisible. My conversations with President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe have only reinforced our will to join hands in achieving our common goals. As you make important choices for the harmony and progress of your society, you will find in India a friend and partner that will support your nation-building endeavours. 

Venerable Monks, Excellencies and Friends,

Lord Buddha’s message is as relevant in the twenty first century as it was two and a half millennia ago. The मध्यम प्रतिपदा , the Middle Path shown by Buddha, speaks to all of us. Its universality and evergreen nature is striking. It has been a unifying force among nations. The countries of South, Central, South East and East Asia are proud of their Buddhist links traced to the land of Buddha.

The themes of Social Justice and Sustainable World Peace,chosen for the Vesak day,resonate deeply with Buddha's teachings. The themes may appear independent. But, they are both deeply interdependentand interconnected. The issue of Social justiceis linked to conflictwithin and among communities. This arises principally because of तन्हा or (तृष्णा in Sanskrit), the thirst, which in turn stems from greed . Greed has driven the mankind to dominate and degrade our natural habitat. Our desire to achieve all our wants has created income inequalities in communities and disturbed social harmony.

Similarly, the biggest challenge to Sustainable World Peace today may not be necessarily from conflict between the nation states. It is from the mindsets,thought streams, entities and instruments rooted in the idea of hate and violence. The menace of terrorism in our region is a concrete manifestation of this destructive emotion. Sadly, these ideologies of hate and their proponents in our region are not open to dialogue and hence only open to causing death and destruction. I firmly believe that Buddhism's message of peace is the answer to growing arc of violence all over the world.

And, not just a negative notion of peace defined by the absence of conflict. But, a positive peace where we all work to promote dialogue, harmony and justice, based on compassion and wisdom. As Buddha said,"नत्तीसंतिपरणसुखं", "there is no higher bliss than peace". On Vesak, my hope is that India and Sri Lanka will work together to uphold the ideals of Lord Buddha and promote values of peace, accommodation, inclusiveness, and compassion in the policies and conduct of our governments. This is the true path to free individuals, families, societies, nations and the world at large from the three poisons of greed, hatred and ignorance. 

Venerable Monks, Excellencies and friends,

On the blessed day of Vesak, let us light the lamps of knowledge to move out of darkness; let us look more within; and let us uphold nothing else but the truth. And, dedicate our efforts to follow the path of Buddha whose light shines all over the world.

As the verse 387 of Dhammapada says:

दिवातपतिआदिच्चो,रत्तिंगओभातिचंदिमा.
सन्न्द्धोखत्तियोतपति,झायीतपति ब्राह्मणों.
अथसब्बमअहोरत्तिंग,बुद्धोतपतितेजसा.

Meaning:

The sun shines by the day,
The moon lights up the night,
The warrior shines in his armour,
The Brahmin shines in his meditation,
But, the awakened one shines all day and night by his radiance. 

Thank you once again for the honour to be with you.

I look forward to paying homage at the Sri Dalada Maligawa, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, in Kandy today afternoon. May the Triple Gem of Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha bless us all.

Thank you, Thank you very much 

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12 Years of Agricultural Growth: Augmenting Farmers’ Income
May 24, 2026

India's agriculture sector employs a significant portion of the population and forms the backbone of the rural economy and food security. Agriculture is considered the primary sector as it provides livelihood support to about 42.3 percent of the population and has a share of 18.2 percent in the country’s GDP at current prices. Despite its greater composition, the interests of our Annadatas were compromised for many decades. Due to the absence of formal credit and adequate market access, their incomes were also compromised.


From Stagnation to Surge: A Decade of Remarkable Income Growth
A positive shift is witnessed due to targeted measures of the current government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A recent report by NITI Aayog revealed that India’s agricultural income did not experience any negative growth from 2015–16 to 2024–25. In addition, during 2014–15 to 2023–24, the income of agricultural producers grew at 10.11 percent annually, higher than that of manufacturing and total economy. The income of farmers too increased by 126 percent in ten years, while producers’ income rose by 108 percent between 2015–16 and 2022–23, surpassing the doubling target in nominal terms over the decade.

Shielding Annadatas: Risk Reduction for Stable Incomes
This transformation is powered by the multipronged strategy of the current government. The first pillar of this strategy is to reduce risk and shield farmers from uncertainty. For decades, agriculture in India has remained highly vulnerable to erratic monsoons, pests, diseases, hailstorms, floods, and droughts. Reducing these risks has been a priority to prevent income shocks and encourage investment in modern practices. Initiatives such as Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), launched in 2016, provide comprehensive crop insurance. It stabilises farmers' incomes, encourages the adoption of innovative practices, and ensures the flow of credit. Under this initiative, more than 92 crore applications have been insured since inception. In addition, other complementary measures include soil health management via the Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme. Nearly 26 crore such cards have been distributed, providing farmers with nutrient status and customised fertiliser recommendations. This lowers costs, improves yields, and mitigates the risk of soil degradation.
Additionally, the government also introduced other risk-mitigation tools, including promotion of micro-irrigation under Per Drop More Crop, climate-resilient seed varieties and initiatives like PM-KUSUM for solar pumps, reducing dependence on diesel and enabling income from excess power generation. More than 21 lakh farmers have already benefited through PM-KUSUM.
Similarly, Namo Drone Didi initiative also empowers women in rural India by equipping them with drones for agricultural rental services, which targets to generate an additional income of at least Rs.1 lakh per year for each participating SHG. These efforts collectively lower production risks, particularly for small and marginal farmers who constitute the majority.
Direct Income Boost
The second pillar is providing direct income support to our farmers. To supplement farm earnings and address immediate cash needs, the government introduced Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN). Under this, Rs. 6,000 annually is given to eligible landholding farmer families via DBT, ensuring transparency. It is supporting over 11 crore farmer families and Rs. 4.28 lakh crore disbursed under PM-KISAN since inception. It serves as a predictable income support for agricultural inputs, domestic needs, or allied activities, cushioning against market volatility or crop failures. The scheme aligns with the broader goal of treating farming as a viable enterprise rather than mere subsistence.
Beyond immediate income support, the government is also ensuring farmers' social security through the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan-Dhan Yojana (PMKMY). This voluntary and contributory pension scheme, with monthly contributions ranging from Rs. 55 to Rs. 200, will ensure a minimum monthly assured pension of Rs. 3000 upon attaining the age of 60 years. Nearly 25 lakh farmers have been enrolled under PMKMY.
Additional direct benefits flow from diversifying into animal husbandry, fisheries, and beekeeping, promoted through dedicated schemes. As a result, India became the 2nd largest fish producer globally. Similarly, honey and egg production have doubled since 2014.

Assured Returns: MSP, Procurement & Market Reforms

A key pillar for realizing better returns is the Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism. The current government has consistently increased MSP for 22 crops to provide financial support to farmers. Notable hikes include significant increases for wheat, paddy, pulses, oilseeds, and millets. For instance, MSP for wheat increased from Rs. 1400 per quintal in 2014-15 to Rs. 2585 per quintal in 2026-27, showcasing an increase of 84.28 percent (approx.).
For the same period, the MSP for Masur (Lentil) increased by more than 127 percent. Similarly, the MSP for paddy rose from Rs. 1360 per quintal in 2014-15 to Rs. 2369 per quintal in 2025-26, marking over 74 per cent increase. Along with price, the procurement volumes have risen substantially. Total procurement increased from 6,987 LMT during 2004–14 to 12,292 LMT in 2014–26, marking nearly 76 percent rise. Higher MSP, combined with expanded procurement, has increased direct income into rural economies and incentivised farmers.
Additionally, market reforms like eNAM have integrated over 1,600 mandis, enabling transparent online trading, better price discovery, and reduced intermediaries. Similarly, formation of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) helps small farmers get better prices and market access and achieve high turnovers.

Unlocking Credit & Sustainability: Formal Finance Powering Farmer Growth

The last but most important pillar is bringing farmers into the formal credit system. Lack of timely, affordable credit has long pushed farmers toward high-interest moneylenders. Since 2014, the government has strengthened formal credit through the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme, revamped and expanded. Currently, over 7 crore KCCs are active nationwide, with outstanding loans of about Rs. 10.2 lakh crore. Additionally, ground-level agriculture credit targets have been scaled up. The Ground Level Credit (GLC) target for agriculture increased from Rs 7.30 lakh crore in 2013-2014 to Rs 28.67 lakh crore in 2024-2025. This has enabled farmers to invest in quality seeds, fertilisers, and machinery while reducing debt traps.
Complementing this, the Modi government also promotes natural farming and organic practices for sustainability, along with post-harvest support, which has further multiplied income flows. Budgetary support for agriculture has increased manifold, as the allocation for the Department of Agriculture & Farmer Welfare has surged from Rs. 27,663 crore in 2013-14 to Rs. 1.40 lakh crore in 2026-27, marking a remarkable 408% increase.
As India marches ahead with the Viksit Bharat vision, a prosperous and empowered farming community will remain central to this aspiration. The multi-pronged strategy adopted by the Modi government has laid a strong, resilient foundation for our Annadatas. The government's continued efforts not only doubled farmers’ incomes but also led them to adopt sustainable practices combined with modern agricultural technology.