Prime Minister Narendra Modi will formally inaugurate the PM-KISAN scheme during a two-day farmers' conclave at Gorakhpur on February 24. With its launch, the Central government will release Rs 2000 to each beneficiary through direct benefit transfer mode. The scheme promises Rs 6,000 per annum in three equal installments to small and marginalized farmers with land holding up to two hectares.
However, in Odisha, where the State government is busy in implementing its own KALIA scheme, talks are doing rounds that it is yet to begin necessary process for implementation of the Central scheme.
While Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to consider inclusion of landless labourers, sharecroppers and vulnerable households under the PM-KISAN, Assam and Jharkhand have sought explanation from the Centre over implementation of the scheme and West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh have asked for more time from the Centre to implement the scheme.
State Agriculture Minister Sashi Bhusan Behera has also said that Odisha might also seek more time from the Centre to implement the scheme.
“All officers are busy in implementation of the KALIA scheme, but still we are talking all steps to provide the list of beneficiaries to the Centre. We will discuss the viability of implementation and see what can be done to meet the deadline. If it is not possible we will seek more time,” said Sashi Bhusan Behera said.
However, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has questioned the decision of the State government saying that if more than 40 to 45 lakh farmers of the State can get benefits from the scheme, why is Naveen-led government reluctant to implement it.
“I request CM Naveen to quit his stubborn attitude and ensure that PM-KISAN scheme gets implemented so that farmers can get the benefits,” said Pradhan.
The State government is scheduled to release Rs 5000 to around 12 lakh small and marginal farmers during the second phase benefit transfer under the KALIA scheme during CM Naveen's visit to Sohela of Bargarh district on February 21.
Odisha Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi said all the beneficiaries of KALIA scheme will be covered under the PM-KISAN programme. In the first phase, a list of 12.45 lakh small and marginal farmers will be given to the Centre for the PM-KISAN programme.
“The small and marginal farmers, who have been included in the first phase of the KALIA scheme, will be covered under the PM-KISAN programme,” said Padhi.
“A decision has been taken by the State government to join the PM- KISAN programme. In the first phase, KALIA beneficiaries will be included and data of these small and marginal farmers will be uploaded,” said Saurabh Garg, Agriculture department secretary.
Other small and marginal farmers will be included in the State-sponsored KALIA scheme and later in the PM-KISAN scheme in phases, Garg further stated.
PM Modi will formally inaugurate the PM-KISAN scheme during a two-day farmers’ conclave at Gorakhpur on February 24. With its launch, the Central government will release Rs 2000 to each beneficiary through direct benefit transfer mode. The scheme promises Rs 6,000 per annum in three equal instalments to small and marginal farmers with land holding up to two hectares.
Meanwhile, the State government transferred Rs 700 crore to the bank accounts of over 14 lakh beneficiaries in the second phase of KALIA scheme at a programme in Bargarh.
Sources privy to the budget preparations said, that it may offer more support to some of the existing farmer support schemes, including for minimum support price (MSP), interest rate subvention and higher fertiliser subsidy.
In the interim Budget presented in February, agriculture had received an unprecedented 144 per cent hike rise in allocation, from Rs 57,600 crore in 2018-19 to Rs 1,40,764 crore in the February budget.
This allocation set for a minimum 30 per cent hike by to reach about Rs 1.83 lakh crore in the full budget due in July. Agriculture had comprised 3.52 per cent of the budget in the 2017-18, but had cornered 5.39 per cent of the interim budget in February.
The biggest announcement in the interim budget -- the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi to provide structured income support to 12 crore farmers at a cost of Rs 75,000 crore may see a variant to provide a regular annual income to the farmers, a source said.
"There may be some flagship scheme like the Kisan scheme in the 2019 interim budget, in the July full budget which would be a flagship, or a distinct feature, for the farmers", he said.
The Kisan scheme, which has already been rolled out retrospectively from December last year, was earmarked Rs 20,000 crore for the rest of the last fiscal (January-March).
Only half this amount could be spent as the election model code of conduct came into operation almost midway through the last quarter.
The Budget may also announce a higher interest rate subvention for crops affected by natural calamities like the recent cyclone 'Fani', and also on timely repayment of loans, the sources said, adding there is no direct farm loan waiver under consideration as the government does not want to encourage this credit culture.
The fertiliser subsidy is also going to see a higher allocation as the government is trying to provider soil nutrients to the farmers.
The fertiliser subsidy in the interim budget was pegged at Rs 74,986 crore for 2019-20. The fertiliser subsidy bill in 2018-19 overshot by at least Rs 25,000 crore, which was rolled over to the 2019-2020 fiscal.
With the push of a button, Modi will enable the transfer of more than Rs 18,000 crore to over nine crore beneficiary farmer families, it added.
Modi will also interact with farmers from six states during the event, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said.
"The farmers will share their experiences with PM-KISAN and also on various other initiatives taken by the government for the welfare of farmers," it said.
Under the PM-KISAN scheme, a financial benefit of Rs 6,000 per year is provided to small and marginal farmers, payable in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 each. The fund is transferred directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.
The programme comes amid protests by various farmer unions against three farm laws recently enacted by the Modi government.
The government has insisted that these reforms are in the interest of farmers.
(PTI)
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)