A function to mark the release of the tenth installment of PM-KISAN funds will be a key feature of Prime Minister’s new year day itinerary
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address farmers on 1 January and announce the relases of the tenth installment of funds for farmers under the PM-KISAN scheme. He will also release funds to Farmer Producer Organisations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the tenth installment of financial benefit under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme on Saturday 1 January 2022 via video conferencing.
The Prime Minister will also address the nation while announcing the transfer of an amount of over Rs. 20,000 crore to more than 10 crore beneficiaries.
PM Kisan is a Central Sector scheme entirely funded by the central government. It provides an anual financial grant (or Samman Rashi) of Rs. 6000 to eligible beneficiaries, payable in three equal installments of Rs.2000. The fund is disburssed directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. The scheme has so far transferred a sum of Rs. 1.6 lakh crore to farmers so far since it came into effect three years ago.
Simultaneously, the Prime Minister will also interact with members of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) during the event. An equity grant of over Rs. 14 crore will be released to about 351 FPOs encompassing more than 1.24 lakh farmers.
Union Agriculture Minister will also be present on the occasion. (The PIB press release did not mention Union Agriculture Minister, Narendra Singh Tomar by name.)
Business welcomes PM-KISAN installment
Interestingly, business chambers have applauded the government for its decision to transfer the PM-KISAN installment. The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry tweeted:
#PHDCCI applauds the #Government for its decision to transfer Rs. 20,000 Crores to the bank accounts of more than 10 crore farmers under the flagship Kisan Samman Nidhi #Scheme on January 1.
The past year has been a tumultuous one as far as government-farmer relationships go. It was especially marked by the bitter stand-off between the government and farmers protesting the farm laws. Farmer organisations said that the farm laws were against their interests and meant to serve big business. The farm laws were eventually withdrawn with the prime minister regretting an inability to explain and convince the farmers of the benefits of the farm laws.
