On Friday, for the first time, the advantages under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme reached farmers of West Bengal. About 7.03 lakh farmers got Rs 2,000 each under the programme launched more than two years ago by the Central Government.
Under this scheme, also referred to as PM-KISAN, a financial benefit of Rs 6,000 per annum is provided to the eligible farmers, payable in three equal 4-monthly installments of Rs 2,000 each. The fund is transferred on to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. The scheme was launched quite two year ago but was implemented with effect from December 2018.
This scheme was not implemented till now in West Bengal because the government and also the Centre were at loggerheads over various issues, including verified data of farmers.
‘The first installment has reached lakhs of farmers of Bengal. As the names of farmers from the state are received by the central government, the numbers of beneficiary farmer will increase,' Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after releasing the 8th installment of the financial benefit under the scheme at a virtual event.
About 7.03 lakh farmers from West Bengal on Friday received the first installment of Rs 2,000 in their bank accounts, the Prime Minister said.
Under the 8th installment disbursed on Friday, a total package of Rs 20,667 crore was transferred to more than 9.5 crore farmers across the country, including those from West Bengal.
The scheme is benefitting small and marginal farmers very much in the current difficult times of COVID-19, Modi said.
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, who was present at the virtual event, recalled that the Prime Minister had directed his ministry to take some measures to bring all states under the scheme as soon as possible.
'In the absence of West Bengal, we weren’t ready to tell all states have joined the scheme. Today, West Bengal has joined the scheme and more than 7 lakh farmers will get the benefit,' he added.
