The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has taken a groundbreaking step by integrating an AI chatbot into the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme, marking a historic move in enhancing support for India’s farmers.
PM-KISAN Scheme Overview
- Inception and Objectives: The PM-KISAN Scheme, initiated on December 1, 2018, provides income support of Rs 6,000 per annum to eligible farmer families across India. This support is distributed in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 every four months via Direct Benefit Transfer.
- Nodal Ministry: The scheme operates under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, emphasizing its agricultural significance.
- Objective: PM-KISAN aims to supplement the financial resources of landholding farmers’ families, ensuring robust crop health and satisfactory yields, aligning with their expected farm income and domestic needs.
- Eligibility Criteria: Small and marginal farmers, urban and rural, owning cultivable land, are eligible beneficiaries. However, the scheme excludes individuals with higher economic status, institutional landholders, government officers, professionals, and retired pensioners with substantial pensions.
Achievements of PM-KISAN Scheme
The PM-KISAN Scheme has been a game-changer, supporting farmers’ livelihoods in several ways:
- Broad Outreach: Over 11 crore farmers have benefited from the scheme, with an impressive transfer of Rs 2.42 lakh crore into their bank accounts, making it India’s largest Direct Benefit Transfer initiative.
- Simplified Registration: A user-friendly mobile app and the PM KISAN portal have streamlined beneficiary registration and grievance redressal, successfully addressing over 13.5 lakh grievances.
- Alleviating Liquidity Constraints: The scheme has substantially eased liquidity constraints for farmers, facilitating access to formal credit.
- Fostering Technological Adoption: While primarily a cash transfer program, PM-KISAN plays a pivotal role in promoting modern farming technologies, stimulating productive investments.
AI Chatbot Integration
- A Historic Leap: The integration of an AI chatbot with the PM-KISAN Scheme marks a historic milestone in the government’s commitment to farmer welfare.
- User-Friendly Support: The AI Chatbot’s primary aim is to provide farmers with a user-friendly platform. Initially, it assists in accessing critical information such as application status, payment details, and eligibility status.
- Multilingual Accessibility: Currently available in English, Hindi, Bengali, Odia, and Tamil, the chatbot is slated to expand to all 22 official languages of India, ensuring accessibility to a broader audience.
UPSC Mains Questions
- How does the PM-KISAN Scheme address the dual objective of supporting farmers’ income and promoting technological adoption in agriculture?
- Discuss the significance of integrating an AI chatbot into a major government welfare scheme like PM-KISAN, considering its potential impact on farmer empowerment.
- What challenges might arise during the expansion of the AI chatbot to all 22 official languages, and how can these challenges be effectively addressed?
- How can the success of the PM-KISAN Scheme and the AI chatbot integration serve as a model for improving other government welfare programs in India?
