Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (7 Feb 2021) attacked West Bengal government for allegedly depriving farmers of benefits under Centre’s PM Kisan cash assistance scheme. Modi was addressing his first rally for the upcoming assembly election in West Bengal.
Bhartiya Janta Party, preparing to form its maiden government in West Bengal, has come out as the main rival of Trinamool Congress for the upcoming elections. While addressing the BJP rally in Haldia Prime Minister lashed out at Mamata Banerjee for “lacking sympathy” for Annadatta’s, failing to create jobs and “reviving” violence in the state.
PM Modi said if voted to office in Bengal, the BJP government’s first cabinet decision will be to release PM Kisan yojana grants to around 70 lakh farmers, which will include arrears since its launch in December 2018.
He said, “The first cabinet decision will be to clear 3 years’ dues of farmers of West Bengal, if the BJP succeeds in forming government here”.
Under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana popularly known as PM-Kisan — Centre provides cash assistance of Rs 6,000 annually to the farmers in three equal instalments, which is paid every four months. PM-Kisan registration process is quite easy, all you need to do is go to the official website of government - https://pmkisan.gov.in/
It is important to mention that there has been a clash between the state and central governments regarding PM Kisan scheme, with the latter accusing Mamata Banerjee of refusing to execute it in Bengal. But last month, Mamta told that she was ready to implement PM-Kisan scheme for farmers in the state.
In addition, the West Bengal government also runs a cash support scheme for the farmers. State government’s poll-year Budget, announced few days back, has increased the annual assistance provided under the scheme from Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000.
Modi added that “Under immense pressure, Trinamool government has agreed to take part in the PM Kisan scheme, but did not give us any account details of state agencies to transfer the fund to the farmers directly. Even though 26 lakh aware farmers registered with the scheme on their own, the state government gave us a verified beneficiary list of only 6,000 farmers. This is the extent of apathy the government has for the farmers.”
