On June 18, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a journey to his parliamentary stronghold, Varanasi, marking his inaugural visit following his re-election for a third consecutive term. During this momentous occasion, he will unveil the 17th tranche of the PM-KISAN initiative, amounting to a staggering sum exceeding Rs 20,000 crore, benefiting 9.26 crore farmers nationwide.
Additionally, Modi will felicitate over 30,000 individuals affiliated with Self Help Groups (SHGs), who have undergone specialized training to become ‘Krishi Sakhis’, serving as auxiliary extension workers, rendering support to their fellow agriculturists in various farming techniques. In a press briefing, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan underscored the government’s unwavering dedication to bolstering the agricultural sector.
“Agriculture has consistently held primacy in the Prime Minister’s agenda throughout his preceding tenures. He has taken a multitude of pivotal decisions in the best interests of our farmers. Upon assuming office, Modi ji promptly endorsed the release of the 17th installment of the PM-KISAN scheme,” remarked Chouhan. Introduced in 2019, PM-KISAN stands as a hallmark direct benefit transfer (DBT) endeavor, wherein eligible farmers receive an annual stipend of Rs 6,000, disbursed in three equal disbursements, to supplement their financial requirements.
Chouhan accentuated that the central government has disbursed an astronomical sum exceeding Rs 3.04 lakh crore to in excess of 11 crore farmers across the nation since the program’s inception. The presence of Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and several state dignitaries is anticipated at the Varanasi event. Additionally, the agriculture minister shed light on the Krishi Sakhi initiative, a collaborative endeavor with the Ministry of Rural Development.
This initiative endeavors to equip 90,000 women from SHGs with the requisite training to function as auxiliary agricultural extension workers, thereby aiding the farming community and augmenting their earnings. Thus far, over 34,000 Krishi Sakhis out of the stipulated 70,000 have attained accreditation as auxiliary extension workers across 12 states, including Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Odisha, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, and Meghalaya.
The government is in the process of formulating a comprehensive 100-day blueprint for the agricultural sector, underscoring its steadfast commitment to the welfare of farmers and the holistic development of the agricultural landscape within the nation.