‘PM-Kisan’ and ‘Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana’: ₹36,816 Crore Deposited in Farmers’ Accounts in Maharashtra

The economy of both the country and the state relies heavily on the strength of its farmers. Recognizing this, both the central and state governments have taken steps to empower and support them. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the central government launched the PM-Kisan scheme, while the Maharashtra state government introduced the ‘Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana’ under the guidance of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, and Agriculture Minister Dhananjay Munde. These initiatives reaffirm the state government’s commitment to standing firmly behind its farmers.

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme, launched by the central government, and the ‘Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana’ by the state government aim to increase farmers’ incomes and strengthen their financial stability. Under these schemes, a total of ₹36,816 crore has been deposited into the accounts of eligible farmers across the state.

The PM-Kisan scheme, which was launched by the central government on December 1, 2018, targets small and marginal farmers. The Maharashtra state government further bolstered this effort by approving the ‘Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana’ during a Cabinet meeting on May 30, 2023. Together, these two schemes have deposited ₹36,816 crore into the accounts of the state’s farmers.

Eligibility for these schemes requires that farmer families have a qualifying landholding as recorded in the land records. Eligible families receive ₹6,000 per year, distributed in three installments of ₹2,000 each. However, certain individuals, such as those holding constitutional posts, MPs, MLAs, and government employees, are ineligible for these benefits.

As of the latest data, 116.65 lakh farmer families in Maharashtra are eligible under the PM-Kisan scheme, with a total of ₹31,511 crore deposited into their bank accounts across seventeen installments.

The state government’s ‘Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana’ supplements the PM-Kisan scheme, adding an additional ₹6,000 annually to the eligible farmers’ accounts, disbursed in three installments. The first installment covers April to July, the second from August to November, and the third from December to March.

The ‘Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi’ scheme has seen a total of ₹5,304 crore deposited into the accounts of 91.93 lakh eligible farmer families as of August 13, 2024, after completing necessary formalities such as e-KYC, Aadhaar linkage, and land record verification.