Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme (PM-KISAN)

Source : PIB

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme (PM-KISAN)

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM-KISAN) is a transformative scheme launched by the Government of India to provide direct financial support to landholding farmers across the country. It is part of the government's larger efforts to empower farmers and promote sustainable agricultural practices by addressing their financial constraints.


Key Features of PM-KISAN
Launch and Objective
  • Launch Date: The scheme was officially launched on 24th February 2019 by the Prime Minister.
  • Primary Objective:
    • To supplement the financial needs of landholding farmers for procuring necessary agricultural inputs like seeds, fertilizers, equipment, and labor.
    • To ensure proper crop health and increase productivity, ultimately improving farmers’ income and livelihood.
    • To protect farmers from falling into debt traps and to reduce dependency on informal moneylenders for farming expenses.

Financial Benefits Under PM-KISAN
  • Amount Provided: Eligible farmers receive a total financial assistance of ₹6,000 annually, credited in three equal installments of ₹2,000 each.
  • Frequency of Payments: Installments are disbursed once every four months, providing farmers with timely aid during critical agricultural cycles.
  • Direct Transfer to Beneficiaries: The funds are directly credited to the bank accounts of farmers through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism, ensuring transparency and minimizing leakage or corruption.

Scope of the Scheme
  • Initial Scope: Initially, the scheme targeted only Small and Marginal Farmers (SMFs) who owned cultivable land up to 2 hectares.
  • Expanded Scope: In 2019, the scope of PM-KISAN was expanded to cover all landholding farmers across the country, regardless of the size of their landholdings.
  • This inclusivity has significantly increased the scheme's reach and benefits, making it one of the largest farmer support programs in the world.

Funding and Implementation
  • Type of Scheme: PM-KISAN is a Central Sector Scheme, which means it is fully funded by the Government of India.
  • Implementing Agency: The scheme is implemented under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, ensuring that the funds reach the intended beneficiaries in a time-bound and efficient manner.

Technological and Operational Support
  1. PM-KISAN Mobile App:
    • The mobile application was developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
    • The app enables farmers to register for the scheme, check payment status, and address grievances seamlessly.
    • It simplifies access to the scheme’s benefits for farmers, especially those in remote areas, by providing real-time information at their fingertips.
  2. Physical Verification Module:
    • To ensure transparency and accountability, the scheme mandates physical verification of 5% of beneficiaries annually.
    • This step minimizes the risk of fraud and ensures that only eligible farmers benefit from the scheme.
    • Verification is conducted by authorized officials, and discrepancies, if any, are promptly addressed.
  3. Digital Database of Beneficiaries:
    • The government maintains a comprehensive database of beneficiaries, which includes Aadhaar-linked accounts for efficient tracking and disbursal of funds.
    • This digital approach reduces errors, avoids duplication, and ensures that no deserving farmer is left out.

Objectives of PM-KISAN
The scheme is centered on fulfilling the following goals:
  1. Support for Agricultural Inputs:
    • To assist farmers in purchasing essential inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, irrigation facilities, and labor required for cultivation.
    • Ensuring access to such inputs helps farmers improve the quality and yield of their crops.
  2. Mitigating Financial Stress:
    • The scheme aims to reduce the financial burden on farmers, especially during critical stages of the crop cycle, by providing timely assistance.
    • This reduces dependency on informal credit sources such as moneylenders, which often lead to a vicious cycle of debt and financial distress.
  3. Empowering Small and Marginal Farmers:
    • Special emphasis is laid on uplifting Small and Marginal Farmers (SMFs) who face challenges due to limited resources and lower incomes.
    • The scheme ensures their financial stability, enabling them to continue agricultural activities without disruptions.
  4. Promoting Rural Economic Growth:
    • By enhancing farmers’ purchasing power, PM-KISAN indirectly contributes to the growth of rural markets, thereby boosting the rural economy.
    • It creates a ripple effect that benefits allied sectors like agribusiness, transportation, and retail.

PM-KISAN: Broader Impacts and Benefits
  • Addressing Rural Poverty: The scheme plays a pivotal role in alleviating poverty in rural areas by providing financial aid to farming households.
  • Fostering Inclusion: By expanding its scope to include all landholding farmers, PM-KISAN has emerged as an inclusive welfare program.
  • Improving Agricultural Productivity: With timely financial support, farmers can invest in better agricultural practices, leading to increased productivity and profitability.
  • Reducing Urban Migration: By providing economic stability to farmers, the scheme helps curb migration from rural to urban areas in search of livelihood.

Challenges and Way Forward
Challenges:
  1. Exclusion Errors: Despite technological advancements, some eligible farmers may still be left out due to lack of documentation or technical errors.
  2. Delayed Payments: There have been instances of delays in the transfer of funds due to administrative bottlenecks.
  3. Non-Coverage of Tenant Farmers: The scheme primarily benefits landowners, leaving tenant farmers and sharecroppers outside its purview.
Way Forward:
  1. Enhancing Awareness: Educating farmers about the scheme and ensuring that all eligible beneficiaries are registered can improve its outreach.
  2. Strengthening Infrastructure: Investing in robust digital and physical infrastructure can expedite fund transfers and minimize delays.
  3. Inclusion of Tenant Farmers: Policy changes should consider including tenant farmers to ensure equitable benefits across all categories of farmers.

Key Takeaways
PM-KISAN stands as a vital initiative in the government’s mission to double farmers’ income and ensure sustainable agricultural development. Its robust framework and targeted financial aid have the potential to uplift millions of farming households, laying the foundation for a prosperous and self-reliant rural India.

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