About 12 crore farmers likely to benefit. Money to be transferred to their accounts
The farmers are likely to get the first instalment of Rs 2,000 in their bank accounts this month as part of the Centre's income support scheme, the top government official said.
Finance minister Piyush Goyal announced Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, an income support scheme for small and marginal farmers, in the interim Budget. Under this, the farmers who own less than two hectare land will receive a total of Rs 6,000 in three instalments in a year.
Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) secretary Subhash Chandra Garg told DNA Money that the first instalment will be transferred to the beneficiaries' accounts this month itself.
"The government expects it to be done very fast in this month itself. That is why Rs 20,000 crore has been provided for in the current year. They will try to do it (transfer the money to the beneficiaries) in this month itself. That is what the agriculture ministry will try to do," Garg said.
In the interim Budget, the government has earmarked Rs 20,000 crore for disbursement in 2018-19. The scheme is likely to provide the benefit to as many as 12 crore farmers.
The scheme is being introduced with a retrospective effect from December 1. The landowners whose names appear in the land records as on February 1 will be considered for the scheme. However, in case of succession the benefits will be given to the land owner in whose name the land gets transferred. Starting the implementation process, Agriculture secretary Sanjay Agarwal has written a letter to the chief secretaries of all the states in this regard.
The funds would be transferred electronically to the accounts of the beneficiaries after the lists of beneficiaries are uploaded on PM-Kisan portal. The state governments and Union Territories (UTs) will have to upload the district-wise lists on the portal. The government also said that the lists will also be displayed at the panchayat level for transparency.
The number of beneficiaries have been counted on the basis of the Agriculture Census Data 2015-16. In this, the landowners have been categorised as per their landholdings- up to 0.5 hectare, 0.5-1 hectare, 1-2 hectare and 2-4 hectare. About seven crore farmers have landholding of less than half a hectare, as per the government data.
"The approval of Parliament for spending the additional Rs 20,000 crore in this financial year for the income support scheme will be sought through supplementary demand for grants in the current session," Garg said. The Budget session, which began on January 31, will continue till February 13.
For the next financial year, the central government has allocated Rs 75,000 crore for the scheme in the Budget 2019-20. "We anticipated the likely expenditure and provided for it," said the DEA secretary.
"The government will have another opportunity in July to get the entire expenditure planned when the regular Budget is presented. That time, the allocation for the scheme can be increased or decreased if there is a feeling it is under-provided or over-provided for. But that call would be taken at that moment," Garg said.
Garg also said that the income support scheme was on top of the other existing schemes meant for farmers and had no co-relation with the existing subsidies. "The recognition was there that the farmers' income needs support despite subsidies and minimum support price (MSP). And that is why this is being provided. There is no tinkering with the existing schemes. So, this scheme is on top of the existing ones," he clarified.
HARVEST TIME
Rs 6,000 – per marginal farmer income support would be given annually
Rs 20,000 cr – Government has earmarked for disbursement in 2018-19
WHO GAINS?
- The landowners whose names appear in the land records as on February 1 will be considered for the scheme over next five years
- In case of succession the benefits will be given to the land owner in whose name the land will be transferred
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