Farmers News: After releasing 3 installments of Pradhan Mantri Samman Nidhi Yojana or PM -Kisan scheme to farmers without asking for linkage of bank accounts with Aadhaar Card, the Narendra Modi-led BJP government now seems to be particular that the next installment will be transferred to beneficiaries whose bank accounts are linked with their Aadhaar card number.
According to a report on the Economic Times, it is for the first time that the Centre is insisting on compulsory condition of Aadhaar seeding for PM-Kisan payment. Though there is no official confirmation regarding the report so far. Officials in the Rural Development Ministry, Govt. of India also did not verify the report.
The release of funds is likely to bring in Rs. 10,000 crore into the economy at a time when economic growth is down and the government is looking for ways to restore the sector especially the rural economy. The ET report also said that this will be the largest disbursal of funds under the PM-Kisan yojana.
The report quoting an unidentified Agriculture Ministry officer said that “From the next instalment onwards payment would be made only to farmers whose Aadhaar card numbers have been authenticated with their bank accounts". The official said so far the department has authenticated more than fifty million bank accounts.
Under PM-Kisan Yojana that was launched last year, Centre provides income support of Rs.6,000 /year to all farmer families in India in three installments of Rs. 2000 each. The next payment due between December 2019 and March 2020 will be transferred to Aadhaar authenticated accounts of farmers only.
The official added that “The date & venue have not been decided yet" adding that “But we are prepared to pay over Rs. 10,000 crore to farmers in one day. This will boost the rural economy at a time when the GDP growth has hit ten bottom".
