PM Modi releases PM KISAN funds on November 15
PM Modi releases PM KISAN funds on November 15
PM Modi will release the 15th instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme at a function to be held in Jharkhand today, Wednesday, 15 November, the day is auspicious being “Bhaidooj”
Ironically, the Opposition alleges that the instalment was deliberately delayed to coincide with the ongoing Assembly elections to five States and was a violation of the model code of conduct.
The Union Agriculture Ministry in a release on Tuesday asserted that PM Modi would release the money in the midst of ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas’ to recognise the efforts of the tribals in the preservation of cultural heritage and promotion of Indian values of national pride, valour, and hospitality.
Notedly, Over eight crore farmers will receive an amount of more than ₹18,000 crore — ₹2000 each in this installment of the BJP’s pet scheme.
Reportedly, Budget 2023 will see changes in allocation for key schemes including MGNREGS, PM-Kisan, Ayushman Bharat.
However, Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh revealed to the media that the Prime Minister may argue that this was an ongoing scheme but it definitely violated the spirit of the model code of conduct.
He claimed that instalments of similar quarters in 2022, 2021 and 2020 were released on October 17, August 9 and August 1 respectively and that the date of release of 15th instalment was deliberately delayed to coincide with the elections.
According to the Centre, as of July this year, 83,70,263 beneficiaries from Madhya Pradesh, 63,98,381 farmers from Rajasthan, 21,70,541 from Chhattisgarh, 31,15,499 beneficiaries from Telangana and 92,520 were registered under the scheme.
As per a senior Ministry official since it was an ongoing scheme, there were no restrictions on distributing
PM Kisan Nidhi among farmers in poll-bound States.
The Ministry further added in the release that the total amount transferred to the beneficiaries since the inception of the scheme was expected to cross well over ₹2.80 lakh crore.
The release further said that this financial assistance will support farmers in meeting their agricultural and other incidental needs, adding that PM Kisan was one of the world’s largest Direct Benefit Transfer schemes.
The Ministry made it known that “a flagship scheme of the Government of India, it exemplifies the continued commitment of the Government of India to initiate policy actions for an inclusive and productive agricultural sector. Financial benefit of ₹6,000 per year in three equal instalments, every four months, is transferred into the bank accounts of farmers’ families across the country through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.
News Edit K.V.Raman
