PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the Centre has transferred around Rs 1,35,000 crore so far under the PM-KISAN scheme with the payment of eighth instalment on Friday and is also procuring higher quantity of paddy and wheat at MSP to boost farmers’ income.

 

Out of the total amount disbursed since the launch of the scheme in February 2019, Modi said around Rs 60,000 crore has been transferred during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is helping farmers in these difficult times. The Prime Minister on Friday released the eighth instalment of Rs 20,667 crore to more than 9.5 crore farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme via video-conference.

 

Under the scheme, which became effective from December 2018, the Centre provides Rs 6,000 per year to eligible farmers in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000. Addressing the event, Modi said farmers have performed their duties even during this COVID-19 pandemic and helped the country achieve a record production of foodgrains and horticulture crops. He said the PM-KISAN scheme was launched to help farmers, especially small and marginal ones, in meeting their input costs.

 

The Prime Minister said around 10 crore farmers have received the 8th instalment. “To West Bengal farmers, the benefit has begun to reach for the first time. Today, lakhs of farmers in WB have got their first instalment. Gradually when the names of farmers are sent to the Centre, the number of beneficiaries will increase,” he added.

 

 

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the coronavirus pandemic is rapidly spreading in rural areas, as he urged citizens to take precautions, wear masks and maintain social distance to check spread disease that has claimed at least 2.6 lakh lives.

 

The Government, he said, is working on “war footing” to control the second wave of infections and is setting up new hospitals and oxygen generating plants while augmenting supplies of medicines and vaccines.

 

He asked States to crack down on black marketing of medicines and other essential items. “Awareness about this among rural people and cooperation of the panchayat institutes are equally important Modi urged farmers to be aware of this invisible enemy and take precautions and timely medication. He asked people to wear masks, maintain social distancing and undergo testing if there are any symptoms.