Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the next installment of the financial benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) on December 25 via video-conferencing, his office said on Wednesday.
With the push of a button, Mr. Modi will enable the transfer of more than ₹18,000 crore to over nine crore beneficiary farmer families, it added. Mr. Modi will also interact with farmers from six States during the event, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.
“The farmers will share their experiences with PM-KISAN and also on various other initiatives taken by the government for the welfare of farmers,” it said. Under the PM-KISAN scheme, a financial benefit 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.
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The programme comes amid protests by various farmer unions against three farm laws recently enacted by the Modi government. The government has insisted that these reforms are in the interest of farmers.