PM-KISAN scheme: EC clears 2nd farm payout but only to those named before code

The government has earmarked Rs 20,000 crore for PM-KISAN to cover a target population of over 12 crore farmers in the current financial year.

The PM-KISAN scheme, announced in the interim Budget 2019-20 last month, promises direct income support of Rs 6,000 per year in three equal instalments to 12.5 crore small and marginal farmers. (File)

The government is learnt to have got the Election Commission’s (EC) nod for releasing the second instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme from April 1. The permission, however, is limited to beneficiaries identified before the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into force on March 10.

In its response to the Ministry of Agriculture this week, the Commission, sources said, reiterated its instructions of March 5, 2009, which state that “beneficiary projects where specific beneficiaries by name have been identified before coming of the Model Code of Conduct into force” can be continued, even after elections are announced, without any reference to EC.

The Commission asked the government to proceed according to the 2009 circular.

Click here for more election news

Story continues below this ad

In other words, new recipients added after March 10, if any, are unlikely to receive their first and second instalment of Rs 2,000 each until the Lok Sabha elections are over. The MCC forbids any new policy announcements, new projects and financial relief by the government, unless cleared by the EC.

The PM-KISAN scheme, announced in the interim Budget 2019-20 last month, promises a direct income support of Rs 6,000 per year in three equal instalments to 12.5 crore small and marginal farmers with cultivable land holding upto two hectares. It was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 24 and the deadline for the first payment under this scheme expires on March 31.

The Union Government had left it to state governments to identify beneficiaries using their own land records. According to Ministry of Agriculture data, so far, roughly 3.11 crore beneficiaries have been enlisted under the scheme, of which 2.75 crore farmers have received the first instalment of Rs 2,000.

The government has earmarked Rs 20,000 crore for PM-KISAN to cover a target population of over 12 crore farmers in the current financial year.

Story continues below this ad

More than half the farmers who have received the first payment are from BJP-ruled states including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand. Non-BJP ruled states, including West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh, have not certified any farmers for transfer of the first instalment.

In a tweet this week, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley criticised the Opposition for politicising farmers’ interest. “Let politics not come in way of farmers’ interest. West Bengal, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh & Delhi govts. have not certified a single beneficiary for the PM-KISAN payment. Karnataka has certified only 17 farmers,” he said.

The Opposition, on the other hand, has been dismissive of the scheme with Congress leader P Chidambaram describing it as a “bribe for votes” scheme and BSP chief Mayawati calling it an “insult” to farmers.

Ritika Chopra

Ritika Chopra, an award-winning journalist with over 17 years of experience, serves as the Chief of the National Bureau (Govt) and National Education Editor at The Indian Express in New Delhi. In her current role, she oversees the newspaper's coverage of government policies and education. Ritika closely tracks the Union Government, focusing on the politically sensitive Election Commission of India and the Education Ministry, and has authored investigative stories that have prompted government responses. Ritika joined The Indian Express in 2015. Previously, she was part of the political bureau at The Economic Times, India’s largest financial daily. Her journalism career began in Kolkata, her birthplace, with the Hindustan Times in 2006 as an intern, before moving to Delhi in 2007. Since then, she has been reporting from the capital on politics, education, social sectors, and the Election Commission of India. ... Read More

The message, which claims to be from the ‘Lashkar-e-Jihadi’ organisation, also said that 14 Pakistani terrorists have entered India.

34 ‘human bombs’ carrying ‘400 kg of RDX’: Mumbai police on alert after threat message

Cities37 min ago

The Mumbai traffic police received a threat message claiming that 34 "human bombs" with 400 kg of RDX have been planted in 34 vehicles for a major blast. The message, allegedly from 'Lashkar-e-Jihadi', also mentioned 14 Pakistani terrorists in India. Security has been heightened and the police are investigating the threat.

View all shorts

Live Blog