Sure, here’s an article on Pradhanmantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana.
Pradhanmantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana: A Step towards the Welfare of Farmers
India’s economy and growth rely heavily on agriculture. Agriculture sector accounts for almost 18% of the country’s GDP and employs around 50% of the workforce. Despite being the backbone of the economy, Indian farmers have been facing economic hardships for decades. To address the issues faced by the farming community, the government launched the Pradhanmantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM-KISAN) scheme on February 24, 2019. This scheme provides financial assistance to farmers across the country, helping them meet their farm expenses and ensuring their economic stability.
What is PM-KISAN?
PM-KISAN is a central government scheme, which aims to provide income support to all landholding farmers’ families across the country. Under this scheme, eligible farmers receive Rs. 6,000 per year in three equal installments of Rs. 2,000 each. The money is directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries using the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. The scheme covers all farmers, irrespective of their crop pattern or land holding size. It is a comprehensive package to give relief to farmers who have been facing agrarian distress.
Who is eligible for PM-KISAN?
The scheme covers all landholding farmer families across the country, except for those who fall under any of the following categories:
1. Former or present holders of constitutional posts.
2. Former or present ministers or state ministers and former or present MPs or MLAs.
3. All serving or retired officers and employees of central or state government ministries.
4. All retired officers and employees of PSUs or autonomous bodies under the central or state government.
5. All persons who paid income tax in the last financial year.
6. Professionals like doctors, engineers, lawyers, etc., who have a high-income bracket.
7. All pensioners with a monthly pension of more than Rs. 10,000.
How to register for PM-KISAN?
Farmers who fulfill the eligibility criteria can register for the scheme through the PM-KISAN portal. They can also visit the nearest Common Service Center (CSC) to get it done. The procedure is straightforward and requires minimal documentation such as Aadhar Card, bank account number, and land records.
Benefits of PM-KISAN:
1. Income Support: The scheme provides financial assistance to farmers, which helps them to meet their farming expenses and enhances their purchasing power.
2. Poverty Reduction: The scheme will help in reducing poverty in rural areas as almost 86% of the farmers fall under the small and marginal categories.
3. Improving Agricultural Productivity: The scheme will encourage farmers to adopt modern farming techniques, making them more productive and prosperous.
4. Gender Empowerment: The scheme also covers female farmers who are eligible for the scheme. This will help to empower them financially and socially.
Conclusion:
PM-KISAN is a revolutionary step taken by the government for the welfare of the farming community. It has helped millions of farmers across the country to improve their livelihood and economic stability. The scheme has not only helped farmers meet their farm expenses but also led to poverty reduction, improved agricultural productivity, and gender empowerment. The government should further make efforts to make the scheme more accessible to more farmers who are still out of its ambit.