PM KISAN

PM KISAN

• Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) is a Central Sector scheme with 100% funding from Government of India.
• The Scheme is effective from 1.12.2018.
• Under the Scheme an income support of Rs.6000/- per year is provided to all farmer families across the country in three equal installments of Rs.2000/- every four months.
• 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.

Objectives of PM KISAN

• With a view to augment the income of the Small and Marginal Farmers (SMFs), sort of basic income for farmers
• The PM-KISAN scheme aims to supplement the financial needs of the SMFs in procuring various inputs to ensure proper crop health and appropriate yields, commensurate with the anticipated farm income at the end of each crop cycle. 
• This would also protect them from falling in the clutches of moneylenders for meeting such expenses and ensure their continuance in the farming activities.

Problems in implementation

1. Errors in registered names and bank accounts. Example Nearly 13 million farmers in Uttar Pradesh could miss out on the fourth instalment of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) minimum income support scheme unless errors in their registered names and bank accounts
2. Aadhaar-seeding is taking time, which is mandatory for fourth Installment
3. Errors in land records. Solution digitization of land records. Best practice Andhra use Blockchain for land records
4. Strengthening IT backbone-- States with robust computerized land records data base and a good IT infrastructure will be in a better position to implement PM-KISAN
5. Banks need to be sensitized properly on their critical role in implementation of PM-KISAN. Guidelines from Centre and RBI are needed for this. State Governments may also convene special meetings of the State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) with the Lead Banks positively driving the intention.
6. Identification of sharecroppers/lessee cultivators continues to be a huge challenge. Solution land leasing law.
7. what will happen to those farmers who missed first three installments.

Way forward

1. Rectifying errors in registered names in scheme portal in line with Aadhar data
2. Digitization of land records
3. Adoption of model land leasing law by states to legalize share croppers, and institutionalize their finances
4. Strengthening IT backbone in states
5. Pay arrears to farmers missed in first three installments.