PM-Kisan may see 20% cut in budgetary allocation

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme of the government which gives Rs 6,000 a year to farmers may see a cut in budgetary allocation.

It is learnt that the allocation for PM-Kisan may be slashed by 20 per cent to about Rs 60,000 crore in the general Budget from Rs 75,000 crore.

The amount allocated to the scheme was Rs 75,000 crore, in the Budget estimate of 2019-20.

The reason for this massive cut is the obstacles being faced in its implementation in some of the states. Under the PM-Kisan scheme, farmers are given a total of Rs 6,000 in three instalments annually.

However, according to sources, the revised estimate can come to Rs 61,000 crore in the current financial year.

The reason for this is not to implement the scheme by some states like West Bengal. Also, many states do not have proper data of farmers. The target of farmers availing this scheme has been reduced from 14.5 crore to 14 crore which will mean lower spending and allocation under the scheme.

PM-Kisan is a Central Sector scheme with 100 per cent funding from Government of India. The scheme is effective from December 1, 2018.

Under the scheme an income support of Rs 6000 per year is provided to all farmer families across the country in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 each every four months.

The definition of family for the scheme is husband, wife and minor children. The entire responsibility of identification of beneficiary farmer families rests with the State/UT Governments. The fund is directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.

( With inputs from IANS )