Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today announced the release of the 21st instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme through video conferencing. The instalment has been prioritised for farmers in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Uttarakhand, who have suffered heavy crop losses due to recent floods and landslides.
Worth over Rs 540 crore, the instalment has been directly transferred to the bank accounts of more than 27 lakh farmers, including nearly 2.7 lakh women. Each farmer has received Rs 2,000, which, according to the Minister, will help families meet immediate household needs, purchase seeds and fertilizers, and prepare for the next sowing season.
Chouhan emphasised that the instalment was not just financial support but also a reassurance that the government stands firmly with farmers in their hour of need. A short documentary showcasing the challenges faced by farmers in flood-affected States and the government’s relief measures was also screened during the event.
The Minister recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the disaster-hit regions, where he announced relief packages of Rs 1,500 crore for Himachal Pradesh, Rs 1,600 crore for Punjab, and Rs 1,200 crore for Uttarakhand. Ex-gratia support for bereaved families and additional aid under the PM CARES for Children scheme were also announced during the visit. Chouhan said the release of the PM-KISAN instalment builds on these measures and reflects the Centre’s commitment to extend timely support to farming families.
With this release, the cumulative disbursement under PM-KISAN for the three States has crossed Rs 13,626 crore since the scheme’s launch in February 2019. In the latest tranche, Himachal Pradesh received Rs 160.21 crore for 8.01 lakh farmers, Punjab Rs 221.98 crore for 11.09 lakh farmers, and Uttarakhand Rs 157.83 crore for 7.89 lakh farmers.
Ministers, MPs, MLAs, senior officials, and representatives of farmer groups from the three States also joined the event virtually.
