Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that India’s economy was growing at a robust rate of over 8 per cent and the country’s economic fundamentals were strong with exports and GST collections at record highs. 

Releasing the 10th financial instalment directly to the bank accounts of farmers under PM-KISAN yojna, the Prime Minister said, "Today the growth rate of our economy is more than 8 per cent. Record foreign investment has come to India. Old records have also been broken in the GST collection. We have also set new paradigms in the matter of exports, especially in agricultural products," the Prime Minister said.

"Today, as we are entering the New Year, taking inspiration from our efforts of the past year, we have to move towards new resolutions. This year we will complete 75 years of our independence. This is the time to start a new vibrant journey of the country's resolves, to move forward with renewed vigour," he added.

During the event, the Prime Minister also released an equity grant of more than Rs 14 crores to 351 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), which will benefit more than 1.24 lakh farmers.

The Prime Minister's Office said this is in line with the government's continued commitment and resolve to empower grassroots-level farmers.

This will enable the transfer of an amount of more than Rs 20,000 crore to more than 10 crore beneficiary farmer families.

Under the PM-KISAN scheme, a financial benefit of Rs 6,000 per year is provided to the eligible beneficiary farmer families, payable in three equal four-monthly instalments of Rs 2,000 each. The fund is transferred directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. In this scheme, Samman Rashi of over Rs 1.6 lakh crore has been transferred to farmer families so far.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also said that the country will fight the COVID-19 pandemic with full caution and vigilance.

He said, "Corona has its challenges, but Corona cannot stop India's pace. India will also fight Corona with full caution and vigilance and will also fulfill its national interests," he said.

He also lauded India's achievement in providing over 145 crore doses of COVID vaccine.

PM Modi also urged farmers to adopt natural farming. "One big way to save our earth from becoming barren is chemical-free farming. Therefore, in the last year, the country has launched yet another visionary effort- Natural Farming. I urge my farmer friends to switch to chemical-free farming. Today, as we enter 2022, this is the year to indulge ourselves in new challenges," he said.

He further said that efforts have also been started for farmers to get money from crop residues and stubble.

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