As part of its commitment to the welfare of farmers, the Indian government introduced the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM-Kisan) in 2019. The scheme aims to provide direct income support to farmers across the country through cash transfers to their bank accounts. The objective is to ensure that small and marginal farmers – who often have limited access to institutional credit and face numerous other challenges – are able to meet their basic needs and invest in the development of their agricultural activities.
Under PM-Kisan, eligible farmers receive Rs. 6,000 per year in three equal installments of Rs. 2,000 each. The scheme covers all farmers in the country who own less than two hectares of land. The cash transfers are made directly to the beneficiary’s bank account, which is linked to their Aadhaar card. The funds can be used for various purposes, including buying inputs such as seeds and fertilizers, paying for labour, and meeting household expenses.
The implementation of PM-Kisan has been a massive undertaking, given the size and diversity of India’s agricultural sector. As of June 2021, over 11.4 crore farmers have received the benefit of the scheme, with a total amount of Rs. 1.15 lakh crore disbursed. This has provided significant relief to farmers, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns.
The government has taken several measures to ensure the smooth implementation of PM-Kisan. These include setting up a dedicated portal for registration and verification of beneficiaries, establishing a network of state and district-level nodal officers to monitor the scheme’s progress, and conducting extensive outreach to raise awareness about the scheme among farmers.
Despite these efforts, there have been some challenges in the implementation of PM-Kisan. One issue has been the identification of eligible beneficiaries, particularly in cases where land records are outdated or incomplete. The government has taken steps to address this by launching a comprehensive drive to update land records and verify the details of beneficiaries.
Another issue has been the timely disbursement of funds, particularly in cases where there are discrepancies in the bank details of beneficiaries. The government has sought to address this by allowing multiple bank accounts to be linked to a single Aadhaar card, and by providing a dedicated helpline for beneficiaries to address any issues.
Overall, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana has been a significant step towards addressing the challenges faced by small and marginal farmers in India. It has provided a much-needed safety net for farmers, and has also helped to boost rural demand and drive agricultural growth. With continued efforts to improve implementation and address underlying issues, the scheme has the potential to transform the lives of millions of farmers across the country.