Jammu, Feb 24:
Pradhan Mantri KisanSamman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme was launched for Jammu and Kashmir at State level event today in presence of MoS (Independent Charge), Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region; Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, Government of India, Dr Jitendra Singh, Members Parliament, Amit Shah, Jugal Kishore Sharma , Shamsher Singh Manhas and Advisor to Governor, K Skandan. The State level launch function PM-KISAN Scheme was held at Convention Centre, Canal Road Jammu. The programmecoincided with the formal launch of the Pradhan Mantri KisanSamman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme by the Prime Minister at National Level today from Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh). The main function was linked on-line with 6 states (Tamil Nadu, Assam, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh & Gujarat) where the Prime Minister directly transferred the benefit of the first installment of PM-KISAN scheme in the accounts of identified beneficiaries from each state. He also interacted with the farmers of Kerala, Karnataka, Orissa and West Bengal. Mann Ki Baat by PM besides other programmes were also web casted directly from Gorakhpur (UP). On the launching day at National Level, the Prime Minister transferred an amount of Rs 2.21 crores in the accounts of the about 1.1 lakh beneficiaries. At State Level in Jammu and Kashmir, around 71,000 farmers received their first installment Fund Transfer Orders in their accounts through DBT.
During his address, Advisor to Governor, K Skandan underlined the importance of PM-KISAN scheme and said that the revolutionary scheme aims to transform the lives of small and marginal farmers in India, by providing them assured annual monetary support of Rs 6000 in three equal installments. The scheme envisages providing income support to supplement the financial needs of the eligible farmers in procuring various inputs to ensure proper crop health and appropriate yields, commensurate with the anticipated farm yields, he added. He said that with the committed efforts of the agriculture and other allied departments, the J&K state will become the first state to implement Pradhan Mantri KisanSamman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) in letter and spirit. MP Jugal Kishore Sharma, while speaking on the occasion, informed that the benefit under the scheme will be directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries eliminating middlemen and corruption. It is truly an empowering project designed for ensuring dignified life for small and marginal farmers instead of onetime loan waivers, he said, adding that, the scheme is aimed to address farmer migration and improve crop intensity and enhancement of productivity. MP Shamsher Singh Manhas termed the newly launched scheme as a milestone in the transformation of rural economy of the state. On the occasion, the dignitaries also distributed the symbolic cheques to the few beneficiary farmers. During the launching event, the farmers of Jammu also shared their experiences and thanked the government and the administration for considering the welfare of the farming community through this scheme. Similar events were conducted simultaneously at district and block levels in all the districts of the state in which farmers, Local Public/Panchayat representatives, Self Help Groups and NGOs participated. Symbolic Certificates/Sanction orders and Fund Transfer Orders (FTOs) were also issued to the farmers at State, District and Block Level functions. Besides other dignitaries, MLCs Romesh Arora, GL Raina , Vikram Randhawa, Surinder Ambardar, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Sanjeev Verma, Commissioner / Secretary Revenue, Shahid Anayatullah, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, Special Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, Ravinder Sadhu, Director Agriculture Jammu, HK Razdan, Director Extension SKUASt-J, Dr K S Risam, MD JK Agros Bhawani Rakwal, Director Floriculture, BabilaRakwal State Nodal Officer, PM-KISAN Madan Gopal Sharma, Additional Deputy Commissioner Jammu ,Dr Tahir Firdous Dutta besides all the HoDs , senior functionaries of District Administration and large number of farmers of Jammu Division attended the programme. Director Agriculture Jammu, HK Razdan presented the vote of thanks. Later, the Advisor Skandan interacted with the Deputy Commissioners of all the districts through Video conferencing and enquired about the uploading of the data, distribution of Symbolic Certificates and Fund Transfer to the beneficiaries under PM-KISAN scheme. Pertinently, all land holding Small & Marginal Farm Families having cultivable land holding upto 2 ha are eligible to get the benefit of the Scheme. Direct Benefit Transfer at Rs. 6000 per annum per eligible family shall be made in three equal installments of Rs 2000 each.
