The Prime Minister released Rs 18,000 crores as the next instalment under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme to more than 9 crore farmers on December 25, which is also the birth anniversary of BJP veteran and for PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. PM Modi initiated the transfer of the amount by the push of a button. The PM also said that over ₹18,000 crore have been directly deposited in the accounts of farmers without middlemen and commissions.
He held discussions with farmers from six states during the event. Several central government ministers, MPs, MLAs and BJP office bearers were present with their electorate to listen in to Prime Minister Modi’s interaction with farmers. Union Home minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh joined the event from Delhi. PM Modi released the installment of ₹2,000 to every farmer on the birth anniversary of former prime minister and BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee, which is every year celebrated as “Good Governance Day” by the ruling party. Under this scheme, financial aid of ₹6,000 per year is provided to small and marginal farmers, payable in three equal installments of ₹2,000 each. The fund is transferred directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. The programme comes amid protests by various farmer unions against three farm laws recently enacted by the Central Government. The Centre has repeatedly insisted that these reforms are in the interest of farmers.
