During Lockdown, Govt Released Rs 15,841 Crore To Farmers Under PM-Kisan Scheme

Since 24 March, that is, post the beginning of the nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19, the government has credited the accounts of 7.92 crore farmers with Rs 15,841 crore as part of the first instalment for the financial year under the PM-KISAN scheme, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare said on Friday.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Yojana, the central government transfers Rs 6,000 per year to the beneficiaries in three equal instalments, directly into the bank accounts of farmers, subject to certain exclusion criteria relating to higher-income status.

"During the lockdown period from March 24, about 7.92 crore farmer families have been benefited (under PM-KISAN) and an amount of Rs 15,841 crore has been released so far," ministry said in a statement on Friday.

The government on 27 March had said that it will transfer the first installment of Rs 2,000 of 8.69 crore beneficiaries under the scheme in the first week of April to provide immediate relief to farmers affected by the nationwide lockdown.

To curb the spread of the coronavirus that has affected more than 190 countries, the nation has been placed under a lockdown till 14 April.