Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Varanasi on June 18 to release Rs 20,000 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme. During this visit, PM Modi will also present certificates to over 30,000 self-help groups recognized as Krishi Sakhis, marking the release of the 17th installment of the PM-KISAN scheme. This announcement was made by Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, during a press conference on Saturday.
The event, coordinated by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the Government of Uttar Pradesh, signifies a major step in PM Modi’s ongoing commitment to support farmers. PM Modi commenced his third term in office on June 10 by authorizing the release of the 17th installment of the PM-KISAN scheme, aimed at benefiting 9.3 crore farmers and distributing approximately Rs 20,000 crore.
Launched in February 2019, the PM-KISAN scheme transfers Rs 6,000 annually in three equal installments of Rs 2,000 directly into the Aadhaar-linked bank accounts of farmers. Chouhan highlighted that the 17th installment, amounting to over Rs 20,000 crore, will be distributed to more than 9.26 crore beneficiary farmers with a single click by the Prime Minister from Varanasi.
Around 2.5 crore farmers nationwide are expected to join the event. Additionally, 732 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), over 1 lakh Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies, and 5 lakh Common Service Centres (CSCs) across the country will participate to raise awareness among farmers.
During the event, PM Modi will also distribute certificates to more than 30,000 Self Help Groups (SHGs) as Krishi Sakhis and will present certificates to five Krishi Sakhis as a token gesture.
“This financial assistance will support farmers in meeting their agricultural and other incidental needs. A farmer-centric digital infrastructure has ensured the benefits of the scheme reach all farmers across the country without any involvement of middlemen. Maintaining absolute transparency in registering and verifying beneficiaries, the Government of India has disbursed over Rs 3.04 lakh crore to more than 11 crore farmers nationwide. With this release, the total amount transferred to the beneficiaries since the scheme’s inception will exceed Rs 3.24 lakh crore,” Chouhan stated.
Additionally, several Union Ministers will visit 50 KVKs to interact with farmers and raise awareness about various departmental schemes. They will also distribute certificates to the trained Krishi Sakhis in these areas.
(ANI)