Land ordinance to be allowed to lapse: PM

The government has decided to allow the land acquisition ordinance to lapse tomorrow and include 13 points in the rules to provide direct financial benefit to the farmers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today.
"We had brought in an ordinance (on land acquisition) which is lapsing on August 31, and I have decided to let it lapse," the Prime Minister said in his radio programme 'Mann ki Baat'.
Observing that a lot of misinformation has been spread on the ordinance which has created a sense of fear and confusion in the minds of the farmers, he said the lapse of the ordinance would mean that the situation prevailing before his government came to power, would now prevail.

"However, there are some issues which have remained incomplete. This was that there were 13 points which needed to be completed in one year and were thus brought in the ordinance but got stuck in the controversy.
"Even though the ordinance is lapsing, these 13 points, which were meant to provide direct financial benefit to the farmers, are being brought under the rules effective from today so that the farmers do not face financial losses," Modi said.
He said the suggestions to reform the land acquisition law had come from several quarters including the state governments.

Referring to various social security schemes, the Prime Minister said over 17.74 lakh new bank accounts have been opened under the Jan Dhan scheme, making it a big success.

Under the scheme, the poor can open such a bank account with zero balance, but it is of significance that over Rs 22,000 crore have been deposited by the poor people through their hard-earned savings, he said.
"Apprehensions were being expressed whether what could not be done in the last 60 years, could be done within one year. This has been made possible by the hard work of several departments, ministries and banks, he said.
During his 25 minute radio address, the Prime Minister also touched upon several issues, including the importance of Sufism which, he said, could truly reflect the great teachings of Islam as its message was of love, liberalism and peace.