SHILLONG: The state BJP on Sunday said Meghalaya can benefit from the Union Cabinet decisions to empower farmers and traders in the country.
In a statement issued here, Basu Chakraborty, spokesperson of state BJP said the PM-KISAN scheme which promises poor farmers an annual payout of Rs 6,000 in three installments, will be extended to all farmers.
“The new move will benefit around 15 crore farmers. The Cabinet has also cleared the pension scheme for traders. Three crore retail traders and shopkeepers will benefit from the scheme,” Chakraborty said.
The Cabinet also approved a new scheme called the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Pension Yojana (PMKPY) which is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme for small and marginal farmers across the country.
The Modi government will contribute to the pension fund in equal amount as contributed by the farmer, the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar had announced after the cabinet meeting.
“The scheme provides income support to small and marginal landholder farmer families with cultivable land holding up to 2 hectares, across the country. The ongoing scheme aims to cover around 12.5 crore SMF families,” he added.
According to Chakraborty, the Prime Minister’s (PM) scholarship scheme has gone through major changes. The wards of police personnel who were martyred in terror or Maoist attacks will receive enhanced scholarships.
Modi, who had made national security an important plank, has approved a major change in the PM’s scholarship scheme under the National Defence Fund.
The rate of scholarships has been increased from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500 per month for boys and from Rs 2,250 to Rs 3,000 per month for girls.
