Farmers are the backbone of our country’s economy and the government has initiated various schemes for their benefit, one of which is the Pradhanmantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojna. This scheme was introduced in February 2019 with an aim to provide financial support to small and marginal farmers. However, there have been concerns raised by farmers regarding the late payment of this scheme.
The Pradhanmantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojna provides financial assistance of Rs. 6,000 per year in three equal installments to eligible farmers. Under this scheme, the government has fixed the cut-off date for identification of beneficiaries as 1st February and 1st August every year. The first installment of this scheme is given to the farmers in the month of April and the second installment is provided in the month of August.
Despite being a much-needed initiative for farmers, issues seem to arise with regard to the timely payment of these installments. The farmer’s concern regarding the delayed payment of this scheme becomes even more significant amidst the current economic challenges and COVID-19 pandemic.
In some cases, farmers have received partial payment or no payment at all. The delay in payment has led to difficulties for farmers in managing their finances, leading to severe economic hardships.
The government has acknowledged the issues raised by the farmers and has taken necessary measures to streamline the payment process. The Agriculture Ministry has issued instructions to state authorities to ensure that eligible farmers receive timely payment. The central government has asked state governments to complete the verification process of beneficiaries within the time frame and to upload it on the PM Kisan portal for immediate payment.
The government has also taken certain measures like setting up of PM-Kisan cell and a helpline to help farmers who have not received the benefits. The government has further instructed state governments to take strict action against officials responsible for delaying payments.
The Pradhanmantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojna has been a significant step towards empowering farmers. The scheme is aimed at providing much-needed support to small and marginal farmers. However, the delay in payment has caused unnecessary hardship to the farming community. The government needs to take necessary actions to ensure timely payment of installments and alleviate the economic woes of farmers. It is necessary to ensure that this scheme must reach the deserving farmers on time to aid their livelihood.