As of July 2021, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojna (PM-KISAN), a flagship scheme of the Indian government aimed at providing financial assistance to small and marginal farmers, has reached over 10 crore beneficiaries across the country.
Under the scheme, eligible farmers receive direct cash transfers of Rs 6,000 annually in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 each. The funds are transferred directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.
The scheme was launched in February 2019 and has since disbursed over Rs 1.15 lakh crore to farmers. The objective of the scheme is to supplement the financial needs of small and marginal farmers to support them in meeting expenses related to agriculture, such as seeds, fertilisers, and other inputs.
The government has been continuously expanding the PM-KISAN scheme to include more farmers. Initially, it only covered farmers who had less than two hectares of land, but later the eligibility criteria were extended to cover all farmers. The scheme also now covers farmers involved in animal husbandry, fisheries, and beekeeping.
Despite some initial hiccups in the implementation of the scheme, including confusion over the eligibility criteria and a delay in the disbursement of funds, the PM-KISAN has been a significant success. The scheme has helped to provide financial security to millions of farmers, allowing them to focus on increasing agricultural productivity and boosting their incomes.
However, some concerns have been raised regarding the exclusion of certain categories of farmers from the scheme, such as sharecroppers, tenant farmers, and agricultural labourers. There have also been calls for increasing the amount of financial assistance provided to farmers under the scheme.
Overall, the PM-KISAN scheme has been a boon for small and marginal farmers, who make up a significant portion of India’s agricultural workforce. With the government’s continued commitment to expanding the scheme, it is expected to benefit more farmers in the coming years.