Over two lakh farmers in Mandya got ₹803 crore under PM-KISAN: HDK

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy with the beneficiaries in an event of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Yojana (PM-KISAN) scheme at V.C. Farm in Mandya on Monday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Monday said that 2,46,947 farmers in Mandya district have received a sum of ₹803 crore so far in 18 instalments under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme.

Speaking after the live event of the release of the 19th instalment under the PM-KISAN scheme by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bihar, Mr. Kumaraswamy said the PM-KISAN scheme was launched in 2019 and 19 instalments have been released so far.

Complimenting the contributions of farmers to the country’s food security, he said farmers do not see profit or loss when it comes to producing food for the country. They take up sowing with the sole aim of supporting the country’s food production. The Centre has launched many schemes for the benefit of farmers.

Stating that 50% of the country’s population constitutes farmers, he said the country can survive and flourish only when farmers live and prosper. “Only 22 crops were being given the minimum support price (MSP). The people who are dependent on agriculture for their livelihood need to get more support in the form of MSP for their crops, and I feel more crops need to come under MSP.”

MLA for K.R. Pet Manju, Deputy Commissioner Kumara, ZP CEO Nandini, Superintendent of Police P. Mallikarjuna Baldandi, and others were present.

The PM-KISAN scheme was launched in February 2019 by the Prime Minister to supplement the financial needs of land-holding farmers. Under the scheme, a financial benefit of ₹6,000 a year is transferred in three equal instalments into the Aadhaar-bank accounts of farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode, noted a press release.

The Union government has disbursed over ₹3.46 lakh crore in 18 instalments since the launch of the scheme, which aims to support the income of the small and marginal farmers (SMFs), supplementing their financial needs for procuring various inputs to ensure crop health and appropriate yields.

The scheme also aims to protect farmers from falling into the grip of moneylenders for meeting such expenses, the release stated.