In February 2019, the Indian government launched the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme to provide financial support to small and marginal farmers in the country.
The scheme has been designed to provide minimum income support to farmers, which will help them meet their agricultural and domestic needs.
What is PM-KISAN?
PM-KISAN is a central sector scheme with 100% funding from the Government of India. Under this scheme, income support of Rs. 6000 per year is provided to eligible farmer families in three equal installments of Rs. 2000 each. The amount is directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.
Eligibility criteria:
To be eligible for PM-KISAN, a farmer’s family must consist of a husband, wife, and minor children and the family should have cultivable land of up to 2 hectares. Small and marginal farmers, as well as landless agriculture laborers and widows, are eligible for the scheme. The scheme applies to all farmers in the country except for those who are paying income tax and/or have institutional land.
Benefits of PM-KISAN:
Financial support:
The scheme provides financial support to farmers who are struggling to make ends meet. The Rs. 6000 per year can go a long way in helping farmers cover their basic expenses and improve their standard of living.
Direct benefit transfer:
The amount is directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries, which eliminates the need for intermediaries and reduces the risk of corruption.
Crop insurance:
The scheme also provides insurance cover to eligible farmers, which protects them against any crop loss due to natural calamities.
Increased income:
The scheme has the potential to increase the income of small and marginal farmers, which will lead to an overall improvement in their standard of living.
Implementation of PM-KISAN:
The implementation of PM-KISAN has been smooth and the scheme has been well-received by farmers across the country.
The government has set up a dedicated portal for PM-KISAN, which enables farmers to check their eligibility and apply for the scheme online. The portal also provides information on the status of their application and the amount received under the scheme.
Conclusion:
PM-KISAN is a game changer for small and marginal farmers in India. The scheme has been designed to provide financial support to farmers, which will help them meet their agricultural and domestic needs.
The direct benefit transfer mechanism and the insurance cover provided under the scheme make it a comprehensive solution for the challenges faced by farmers. The scheme has the potential to improve the standard of living of farmers and make agriculture a more viable and sustainable profession.