Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday virtually interacted with Nabin Thakur, a farmer from Odisha's Nuapada district and expressed his happiness on how the centrally sponsored PM-KISAN and Kisan Credit Card schemes have helped his life.
During the occasion, the PM released Rs 18,000 crore as the next installment of financial benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme in the bank accounts of nine crore farmers.
While interacting with the PM, the farmer Nabin Thakur said, "I have been given Rs 10,000 under PM-KISAN yojana so far. I have spent the sum on purchasing fertilizers, seeds and pesticides."
When PM Modi asked about the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) yojana, Thakur enlightened him that the card was released to him in March 2019 and till now, it has dramatically changed his life for the good.
"I have taken farm loans from bank at 4 percent interest rate with the help of this card. Prior to that, I had to take loans from local landlords at 20 percent rate but it crippled my life with the vicious cycle of interests. Now, at lower interest rate I can buy seeds, fertilizers and pesticides and do not have to live at others' mercy. I express my gratitude to you (PM Modi) for this," Thakur added.
PM Modi further asked Thakur about his landholding and how much does he spend the KCC sum. To which Thakur replied, "I have landholdings of 40 decimal and I grow paddy on this. After getting such benefits I am looking forward to grow other crops as well."
(Edited By Suryakant Jena)