Agriculture remains an essential sector of India’s economy but is greatly impacted by variations in weather, output, prices, and availability of credit. To improve farmer welfare , the government set up the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM-KISAN) scheme in December 2018, which provides cash transfers for small and marginal farmers.
Objective of PM-KISAN
Compared to other farmers, small farmers produce less and thus need financial assistance more than others. To deal with this unfair situation, the scheme was launched in order to provide income support to farmers at the bottom of the economic ladder. The funds are targeted at satisfying various needs such as the purchase of seeds and fertilizers which are vital for successful plantation. The scheme is designed to reduce the financial burden on farmers, particularly those in rural areas, by offering a steady income boost.
Besides, PM-KISAN is significant in helping farmers deal with the challenges that they may face in agriculture practice. This initiative shows how the government appreciates the importance of farming in the country’s growth and seeks to reduce farmers’ dependence on informal money lenders or institutional credit sources that may not be affordable.
Components and Advantages of PM-KISAN
There are several important attributes of the PM-KISAN scheme that makes it one of the most wide-reaching direct infiome support systems to farmers in the world.
Government Grant: The scheme gives aid amounting to Rupees six thousand to targeted farmers annually, which is given in three equal installments of Rupees two thousand each. These beneficiaries receive the money straight into their bank accounts for easy access.
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): The standout aspect of DBT is the PM-KISAN scheme is the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. Because of this system, the monetary support is given directly to the farmers’ without the use of middlemen. This virtually eradicates the chances of corruption, and the money is credited directly to the registered bank accounts of the beneficiaries. This system is more efficient and responsible because it reduces the opportunity for abuse of the national treasury.
Wider Coverage: Initially, the scope of the PM-KISAN scheme was limited to small and marginal farmers owning 2 hectares or less. However, in later stages of implementation, the government modified the scheme to include all operational farmers irrespective of the size of landholding so that it can reach the maximum number of beneficiaries. Consequently, now more than 14 crore farmers across the country are availing benefit under PM-KISAN Yojana.
HN Application Process: Registration and application process for PM-KISAN is simplistic and can be done online. Farmers are needed to fill the registration form via the official website or through the Common Service Centers (CSCs) located in remote areas.Rural farmers are needed to submit basic information along with land ownership details and bank account information. Post verification, the farmers’ records are updated in the PM-KISAN database and henceforth the assistance amount is credited into the designated bank account.
HNo Bar on Crop Cultivated: Unlike many other schemes that are limited to the cultivation of specific crops, PM-KISAN is meant for all types of farming which includes food crops, cash crops and many other types of horticultural crops. Because of this, the scheme is flexible and beneficial for numerous farming activities.
Timely Payments: The scheme guarantees that farmers receive their payments without delay. timeliness enables farmers to plan their expenses with precision, especially during the busy farming months. The scheme’s timely contributions provide relief for famers who would otherwise face difficulties due to erratic seasonal income.
PM-KISAN Eligibility Criteria
For all the financial help targeted for farmers through this scheme, the applicants have to meet some eligibility criteria as well.
Farmer Category: PM-KISAN primarily targets small and marginal farmers who have some agricultural land. This also includes farmers with cultivable land, such as those growing food and cash crops.
Landholding Limit: Initially, the scheme was restricted to farmers with landholdings up to 2 hectares. Subsequently, the government revised the rules to accommodate all farmers regardless of their land ownership.
Exclusion Criteria: There are some categories of farmers who are excluded from the scheme. These include farmers who own land over a certain limit, farmers in the local income tax net, and institutional landlords, along with some government officials like ministers, members of assemblies, etc.
How to Apply: Farmers have to register themselves on the PM-KISAN portal or locate a Common Service Center (CSC) in their locality. Basic details like, the farmer’s Aadhar number, bank account details, and landholding details will be needed for the application.
The Challenges Faced and the Criticism of PM-KISAN
Even with all the assistance PM-KISAN provides to the farmers, it has had its fair share of issues and criticisms:
Data Issues: There are problems regarding the accuracy of information as well as the farmers’ landholdings data in government records. Some farmers who should qualify have not received possible benefits because faults exist somewhere in the database.
Not All Farmers Are Covered: The scheme has been beneficial to millions of farmers, however others are not qualified for such benefits, like those with relatively larger sized landholdings or those belonging to the high-income group. This has sparked discussion on whether the exclusions made are justifiable or too harsh.
Payment Issues: Although there are guarantees for certain payments to be made, there have been cases where payments did not come within the expected time frame, especially in reference to certain states. Funds Not being released on time can impact the timely operation of agricultural activities significantly.
Lack of awareness: The implementation of the PM-KISAN scheme proved difficult in remote rural locales due to a lack of knowledge surrounding it. More effort must be put in to ensure farmers know about the scheme’s details such as eligibility, benefits, etc.
Conclusion
The PM-KISAN scheme serves as a step by the Indian government towards the economic prosperity of the farming community. The government will be providing support to the economy’s backbone: small and marginal farmers as they will receive direct payments of ₹6,000 annually. There are problems that must be faced, but the scheme has the prospects to improve the wellbeing of farmers by making them financially more secure and dependent less on informal loans.
As the scheme will reach its next phases, it is important to work on barriers such as data management issues, inclusivity, and better communication on the advantages of the projects. With further investment and enhancement, PM-KISAN can look important in advancing India’s agriculture, helping strengthen the economy, and ensuring that farmers will have a promising direction ahead.
If you are interested for more: The United Church of Zambia (UCZ): URC’s 60 Powerful Years of Impact PM-KISAN: 5 Powerful Benefits Transforming Farmers’ Lives
