The transformative impact of ‘PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana’ on farmers’ lives
New Delhi, Feb 28 (IANS) The Central government launched the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme on February 2, 2019, to provide supplementary income support for farmer families in India and promote sustainable agriculture. The scheme has proven to positively impact small and marginal farmers.
Under PM-KISAN, eligible farmer families receive Rs 6,000 per year in three instalments through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The scheme, fully funded by the Central government, prioritizes women farmers and benefits over 85% of small and marginal farmers.
The PM-KISAN scheme has been praised for its efficiency and impact by organizations like the World Bank. A study by IFPRI showed that farmers in Uttar Pradesh benefited greatly from the scheme, investing in agricultural inputs like equipment, seeds, and fertilizers.
To enhance the scheme’s reach and transparency, the government has integrated the PM-Kisan portal with various platforms and developed a voice-based AI Chatbot. Additionally, village-level nodal officers and the Indian Post Payments Bank have been involved in facilitating Aadhaar bank account openings for beneficiaries.
As part of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, a nationwide campaign was launched to enroll more farmers in the PM-Kisan scheme. Over 11 crore eligible farmer families have already received benefits totaling Rs 3 lakh crore through 16 instalments, according to official data.