Union MoS to attend event at ICAR Umiam
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, June 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the 17th instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme in Varanasi on Tuesday, benefiting over 9.26 crore farmers across with a total disbursement of more than Rs 20,000 crore.
During the event, he will also distribute certificates to over 30,000 self-help groups (SHGs) trained as Krishi Sakhis to serve as para-extension workers. A series of special events will be held at 50 selected Krishi Vikas Kendras (KVKs) nationwide, including Meghalaya.
In Meghalaya, the programme will be held at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in Umiam, and will be attended by Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines Satish Chandra Dubey.
According to a statement here, the Union MoS will engage with local farmers and stakeholders during the programme here.
The main event in Varanasi will be attended by prominent leaders, including Governor of Uttar Pradesh Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath, and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, along with several state ministers.
Over 2.5 crore farmers are expected to join the celebrations through 732 Krishi Vikas Kendras (KVKs), more than 1 lakh Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies, and 5 lakh Common Service Centres across the country.
The events aim to educate farmers on good agricultural practices, emerging technologies, and climate-resilient farming.
Attendees will learn to check their PM-KISAN beneficiary status, payment details, and use the Kisan-eMitra Chatbot.
Union Ministers will distribute certificates to the trained Krishi Sakhis, acknowledging their crucial role as community resource persons and experienced farmers.
It may be mentioned that the PM-KISAN scheme was launched on February 24, 2019, to supplement the financial needs of all land-holding farmers subject to certain exclusion criteria of higher income status.
“Financial benefit of Rs 6,000 per year in three equal instalments, every four months, is transferred into the bank accounts of farmers’ families across the country through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode. Till now over Rs 3.04 lakh crores has been disbursed to more than 11 Crore farmers across the nation and with this release, the total amount transferred to the beneficiaries since the inception of the scheme will cross well over Rs 3.24 lakh crores,” the statement said.
Krishi Sakhis are chosen as agriculture para-extension workers because they are trusted community resource persons and experienced farmers themselves. The Krishi Sakhis have already received extensive training in various agricultural practices, making them well-equipped to support and guide fellow farmers effectively.
Till date, over 34,000 Krishi Sakhis out of 70,000 have been certified as Para-extension Workers.
