Amid farmers protest over the farm laws which enters 29 days, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the next tranche of PM-KISAN the direct cash-transfer scheme ,making payments worth Rs 18,000 crore to more than 9 crore farmers.
The PM will also virtually interact with some farmers drawn from six different States on Christmas Day, which is also the birth anniversary of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
According to Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, over two crore farmers have registered themselves for this online event in which PM Modi will be chief guest.
“PM Narendra Modi will release the next installment of financial benefit under PM KISAN Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) on December 25 via video conferencing. PM will enable the transfer of more than Rs 18,000 crores to more than 9 crores beneficiary farmer families,” the PMO said.
The PM’s outreach comes even as farmer unions urged the Centre to “abandon its stubbornness” and take the discussion forward with an “open mind and neat intention”.
According to officials, the Prime Minister will most likely ask farmers impromptu questions on how they have benefited from the scheme and “take a briefing from them on what they are growing and what else they want to see done for them ahead of the budget”, the official said. “The farmers will share their experiences with PM-KISAN and also on various other initiatives taken by the Government for the welfare of farmers. Union Agriculture Minister will also be present on the occasion”, an official said.
According to Tomar, the Government had earlier expected to enroll 14 crore farmers under the scheme but only 11.4 crore listed so far. He thanks banks for bringing more farmers under the Kisan Credit Card scheme coverage during the coronavirus pandemic. “I would also like to thank banks, as they brought more than 1 crore farmers under Kisan Credit Card cover during the pandemic and gave farmers Rs 1 lakh crores in the last 8 months,” Tomar stated.
“Through various schemes, we will fill all gaps in the agriculture sector, which will benefit farmers and ensure they get the right price...Even during COVID-19 pandemic, we saw that work related to farming and agriculture wasn’t affected,” he added.
Under PM-Kisan, the Government provides income support of Rs 6,000 a year to farmers with a valid enrolment, paid in three equal cash transfers of Rs 2,000 — one every four months. It was launched on February 24, 2019.