The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare commemorated the first anniversary of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme on 24th February. Initially launched on February 24th, 2019, the scheme has been widely adopted in all states except West Bengal. Simultaneously, the PM-KISAN Mobile App, which was conceived and created with the help of National Informatics Centre and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, has been released for use.
Introduction to the PM-KISAN Scheme
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, commonly known as PM-KISAN, is a Central Sector Scheme which receives full funding from the Government of India. It falls under the administrative control of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare.
The scheme aims to deliver financial assistance directly to landholding farmers in India, regardless of the size of their land holdings. Each year, the central government transfers an amount of Rs 6,000 into the bank accounts of these farmers. This sum is broken down into three equal installments.
Objective and Impact of the Scheme
PM-KISAN intends to strengthen the financial stability of Small and Marginal Farmers (SMFs), allowing them to secure various inputs essential for maintaining crop health and ensuring optimal yields. By supplementing the income of these farmers, the scheme seeks to facilitate anticipated farm income at the close of each cycle.
Beneficiary Identification and Role of State Governments
The responsibility of identifying the beneficiary farmer families lies entirely with the respective State or Union Territory Governments. Through effective collaboration, the scheme aims to reach each deserving farming family, thus ensuring optimum benefit outreach.
PM-KISAN Mobile App
In an effort to make the scheme more accessible, a dedicated mobile application, PM-KISAN Mobile App, has been developed. This app serves multiple purposes, including enabling farmers to view the status of their application and update or make necessary corrections in their Aadhaar card details. Additionally, it provides farmers the facility to check the history of the credits made to their bank accounts.
The PM-KISAN Scheme represents a significant stride towards the financial empowerment and security of farmers across India. By initiating direct transfer of funds to their bank accounts, the scheme aspires to reduce intermediaries and minimize leakage. Furthermore, the PM-KISAN mobile application reinforces the government’s commitment to digital India by leveraging technology for effective scheme implementation and beneficiary tracking.
With continued development and adoption expected, the PM-KISAN Scheme marks an important milestone in India’s journey towards building a secure and sustainable agricultural sector. The scheme’s first anniversary commemorates this progress and underscores the commitment to continue pursuing efforts towards farmer welfare.
