The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM-Kisan) is a Central Government scheme launched to provide financial support to small and marginal farmers in India.The scheme was announced in the Interim Union Budget 2019 by Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on 1st February 2019.
Under the PM-Kisan scheme, farmers who own up to two hectares of land will receive direct income support of Rs 6,000 per year in their bank accounts in three installments of Rs 2,000 each. The scheme aims to supplement the financial needs of the farmers, including their investment in agriculture and allied activities and buying inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides.
The scheme is expected to benefit around 12 crore small and marginal farmers who will be provided with an assured income of Rs 6000 per year. The government has earmarked an amount of Rs 75,000 crore for the scheme.
The registration for the scheme is simple and free of cost, farmers can apply online on the official website of the scheme, or they can also visit the common service centres (CSCs) for registration. The State government and the banks have collaborated with the government for the smooth implementation of the scheme.
The government has already distributed PM-Kisan benefits to around 8 crore farmers so far, with a total transfer of more than Rs 47,000 crore under the scheme. The scheme has proved to be a lifeline for the farming community during the COVID-19 pandemic and has helped them cope with the economic slowdown due to the lockdown and crop loss.
The scheme has also set up a dashboard that monitors the data of farmers’ applications, verification, rejections, and transfer of payments. The dashboard provides real-time data for monitoring the implementation of the scheme, ensuring transparency in the process.
In conclusion, the PM-Kisan scheme is a step in the right direction towards providing financial security to the farmers, ensuring prompt monetary assistance to the agriculture community. The government, in collaboration with the state governments and banks, needs to continue to work towards the smooth implementation of the scheme to ensure maximum benefit to the farmers.