Kamal Chand takes a break from watering his wheat field to sit under a banyan tree and flick through advertisements for motorbikes. Rising welfare payments have turned the Indian farmer’s dream of owning one into reality. “The government has really helped us,” said Chand, 35, eyeing a picture of a Hero Motocorp Ltd. bike. Higher guaranteed crop prices, wages from a government jobs program and grants have allowed him to renovate his home in the village of Challi in Rajasthan state, buy his wife gold ornaments and acquire his first Nokia Oyj mobile phone. He still has $600 for the bike. Since gaining power in 2004, ... (full story)