Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) is a scheme launched by the Government of India to provide income support to all small and marginal landholding farmers across the country. The scheme was introduced in the interim budget 2019-20 and was officially launched on 24 February 2019 by the Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
Under the PM-KISAN scheme, the government provides a fixed income support of Rs. 6,000 per year to all eligible farmers. This amount is disbursed in three equal installments of Rs. 2,000 each directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiary farmers. The scheme aims to provide financial help to farmers to meet their agricultural expenses like buying seeds, fertilizers, and other inputs, and also to meet household expenses.
One of the most significant advantages of the PM-KISAN scheme is that it aims to cover all farmers without any discrimination based on ownership of land. The government plans to cover nearly 12 crore farmer families across the country, benefiting them with Rs. 75,000 crore annually.
The scheme has a dual objective of providing financial support to farmers while also providing an impetus to rural and agricultural development. The government hopes that the income support provided by the scheme will help farmers meet their basic needs and also help increase their production and productivity.
To be eligible for the PM-KISAN scheme, a farmer needs to fulfill the following criteria:
• Must be a citizen of India
• Must be a farmer by profession
• Must own cultivable land up to 2 hectares or less
• Must be a small or marginal farmer
• Must have a valid Aadhaar card or other recognized ID
The enrollment for the PM-KISAN scheme is done through an online portal – pmkisan.gov.in. Farmers who fulfill the eligibility criteria above can apply for the scheme through the portal. The beneficiaries’ list is prepared based on the application received and verified by the concerned authorities, and the income support is directly credited into the beneficiary farmer’s bank account.
In conclusion, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana is a significant initiative by the Government of India to provide financial assistance to the small and marginal farmers of the country. The scheme aims to bridge the gap between farmers’ income and expenses, while also promoting agricultural productivity and rural development. The scheme is still in process, and the government plans to expand the coverage further to support all the farmers throughout the country.