PM-Kisan: A Comprehensive Guide to India's Farmer Welfare Scheme

PM-Kisan: A Comprehensive Guide to India's Farmer Welfare Scheme

PM-Kisan is a flagship farmer welfare scheme launched by the Government of India in 2019. The scheme aims to provide income support to small and marginal farmers across the country. Under this scheme, eligible farmers receive financial assistance of Rs. 6,000 per annum in three equal instalments of Rs. 2,000 each. The funds are directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.

The PM-Kisan scheme was announced by the Union Minister for Finance, Nirmala Sitharaman, during the interim budget of 2019. The scheme was launched on 24th February 2019 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The scheme has since then become one of the most significant farmer welfare schemes in the country.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the PM-Kisan scheme, a farmer must fulfil the following criteria:

The farmer should be a citizen of India.


The farmer should have a cultivable landholding of up to 2 hectares.


The farmer should not be a taxpayer.


The farmer should have a valid Aadhaar card.


The farmer's name should be registered in the land records of the state or the union territory.

Benefits of the Scheme

The PM-Kisan scheme provides significant benefits to farmers across the country. Some of the benefits of the scheme are:

Financial Assistance: Eligible farmers receive financial assistance of Rs. 6,000 per annum, which is directly transferred to their bank accounts.


Regular Income: The scheme provides a regular income to farmers, which can help them meet their daily needs.


Increased Agricultural Productivity: The scheme can lead to an increase in agricultural productivity by providing financial support to farmers.


Improving Standard of Living: The scheme can help farmers improve their standard of living by providing financial assistance.


Encouraging Farmers to Invest: The scheme can encourage farmers to invest in agriculture and improve their farm yields.

Challenges Faced by the Scheme

Despite its many benefits, the PM-Kisan scheme faces several challenges, including:

Incomplete Data: The scheme relies on the availability of accurate data on farmers, which is not always available.


Verification Issues: The verification process for identifying eligible beneficiaries can be challenging and time-consuming.


Aadhaar Linking Issues: The requirement of Aadhaar linkage can create problems for farmers who do not have an Aadhaar card.


Implementation Challenges: The scheme's implementation at the ground level can be challenging due to bureaucratic and logistical hurdles.

Conclusion

PM-Kisan is a significant farmer welfare scheme launched by the Government of India. The scheme provides financial assistance to small and marginal farmers across the country. While the scheme has its challenges, it has the potential to improve the standard of living of farmers and increase agricultural productivity. As such, the scheme is a crucial step towards the overall development of the agricultural sector in India.