The PM-KISAN (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi) scheme launched by the Modi government ahead of the 2019 general elections saw a sharp dip in the total number of beneficiaries who received the second installment of payments, according to data provided by the initiative’s official website.
Moreover, in many states, even a single farmer is yet to receive any payment, as far as the third installment is concerned.
WHAT IS THE PM-KISAN SCHEME?
The scheme which was announced by the prime minister ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, promised eligible farmers a direct transfer of Rs 6,000 every year in three installments of Rs 2,000 each.
The three tranches were to be received between 1 December 2018 and 31 March 2019; 1 April 2019 and 31 July 2019 and 1 August 2019 and 30 November 2019.
HOW HAS THE SCHEME FARED SO FAR?
According to the scheme’s official website, there are a total of 7,10,22,419 beneficiaries across 36 states and union territories.
Out of this pool of more than 7.10 crore farmers, a little more than 6.47 crore (6,47,12,189) received the first installment of payment, thereby ensuring a 91.11 per cent coverage.
The first installment, notably, was disbursed amid the election season.
However, as far as the second installment is concerned, the number of beneficiaries came down to 3.83 crore (3,83,16,673), a rather modest 53.95 per cent of the total pool.
The number of beneficiaries thus, dipped by 37.16 percentage points.
WHAT ABOUT THE THIRD INSTALLMENT?
The period to disburse the third installment is still underway, but more than 45 days into the third quarter, not a single farmer in as many as 11 states and union territories have received the payment.
Among major states, beneficiaries in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh have not received any payment yet. Together, these four states consist of 35.58 per cent of the total beneficiaries.
The data on the website has been updated till Monday, 17 September and at nearly 95 lakh (94,88,363), just 13.35 per cent of the beneficiaries have received the third installment so far.
WHAT MIGHT BE THE REASON BEHIND THE LAG IN PAYMENT?
According to an Indian Express article, the delay and dip in payments is due to the change in rules which has now made the seeding of the benficiary's Aadhaar number with his/her bank account mandatory.
The first installment allowed alternate documents for verification, the report said.
WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSE?
The Indian Express report suggests that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has asked ministry officials to look into the reasons behind the delay in payments.
“We have asked the Agriculture Secretary to look into this, and provide us a status in slow-moving states and expedite payments,” the report quotes an official, as quoting.
Moreover, the report quotes a UP government official as saying that the 37 lakh farmers will receive the payments "in about 2-3 days".
(With inputs from The Indian Express)
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