PM Narendra Modi says pained by farmers' woes

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said he was pained by the sufferings of the farmers and farm workers and vowed to take steps to make his government sensitive towards their issues.

Addressing farmers and farm labourers in his monthly radio address 'Mann Ki Baat', Modi said he did not imagine that farmers and villagers would pose so many questions to him.

"When I thought of doing 'Mann Ki Baat' with farmers, I did not imagine these many questions would be asked," the Prime Minister said.

Modi said he was pained to hear about farmers losing their yield due to rain or not getting fertilizers on time or being forced to drink dirty water.

"I was amazed to know how active and aware you are... I learnt about your pain after reading your letters," he said, assuring them of making the government more sensitive towards rural India.