Govt focused on aid to farmers, Make-In-India defence projects: President Kovind in Parliament | Top points

Here's what President Ram Nath Kovind said during his address at a joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament ahead of the Budget session 2022 on Monday.

Amid the plans by the Opposition to corner the government over farmer issues during the Budget session 2022, which began on Monday, President Ram Nath Kovind in his address to a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament, highlighted the Centre's efforts to help the farmers.

In his speech, President Kovind covered a range of issues concerning India's development journey in its 75 years of Independence, farmers' issues, the country's Covid-19 vaccination programme, free ration and housing for the poor, women-focused schemes, defence exports, PLI schemes, Afghanistan crisis among others.

President Kovind lauded the government's effort to empower farmers in the country and said that the government stands by farmers and small farmers are the core of policies, adding that the Centre has taken several measures to increase their income.

"Our small-scale farmers have a significant role in the country's development; my government has always prioritised 80 per cent small-scale farmers. As part of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, over 11 crore families of farmers have benefitted. The government has procured more than 433 lakh metric tonnes of wheat, which benefited more than 50 lakh farmers," President Kovind said.

India is holding its Budget session in Parliament starting today and Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Economic Survey 2021-22. She will table her fourth straight Union Budget on Tuesday with financial statements and tax proposals for fiscal year 2022-23.

President Kovind also remembered the personalities who contributed to the development journey of India in the 75 years of independence.

1. President lauds government's pandemic response: In his address, President Kovind lauded the Modi government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic. He said that India's capability in fighting against Covid-19 was evident in the vaccination program. "In less than a year, we made a record of administering over 150 crore doses of vaccine. Today, we are one of the leading nations of the world in terms of administering the maximum number of doses," President Kovind said.