Fill in forms under kisan scheme, farmers urged

Tribune News Service

Bathinda/Muktsar, Feb 21

The Deputy Commissioner on Thursday appealed to eligible farmers to approach the village cooperative societies to fill up the forms at the earliest under the PM Kisan Samman Scheme to get Rs 6,000 per year, which will directly be credited into their bank account in three equal instalments.

As per a note issued here on Thursday, DC Praneet said with a view to directly supporting the income of small farming families with agriculture land up to 5 acres the Union Government had announced the scheme. “An amount of Rs 6,000 per year shall be credited to the bank account of small farmers directly in three equal instalments,” he said, adding that the state government had nominated the Agriculture Department as the Nodal Department for implementing the scheme. The Chief Minister has directed the department to ensure transparent and hassle-free implementation of the scheme.

The Deputy Commissioner further said farmers had been asked to fill in self-declaration forms available in the village level Agricultural Cooperative Societies. The forms so filled were to be uploaded on the IT portal created for the purpose by the societies. The first instalment of Rs 2,000 shall be credited in the bank accounts of the farmers by the end of this month.

Giving more details, he said KS Pannu, Secretary, Agriculture, and State Nodal Officer of the scheme, directed small farming families under the scheme were defined as husband, wife and minor children up to the age of 18 years, jointly owning not more than five acres of farm land. Small farming families where any member is serving or retired employee of government, its board, corporations and autonomous bodies are not eligible to apply under the scheme. However, this condition is not applicable to serving or retired Class IV employees or other retired employees whose monthly pension is less than Rs 10,000. Similarly, income tax payers or those currently or previously holding constitutional posts or MLA, MP, Mayor and Zila Parishad Chairman are also not eligible to apply under the scheme. Also practising professionals such as doctors, engineers, lawyers, architects and chartered accountants who are members of professional bodies are also not eligible to apply.

He said more than 2 lakh farmers had already filled in forms which were being uploaded on the portal by Department of Cooperation. He urged eligible farmers to approach the village cooperative societies to fill up the forms at the earliest so that their land verification process could be completed and forms were uploaded on the portal. He said that it is estimated that about 9-10 lakh farmers in Punjab will be eligible under the scheme.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner MK Aravind Kumar on Thursday appealed to small and marginal farmers of the district to apply for availing the benefit of “PM Kissan Samman Nidhi Scheme”, which has been launched to directly support the income of small farming families with agriculture land up to five acres.

He said Rs 6,000 per year would be credited to the bank account of small farmers directly in three equal instalments.

The Deputy Commissioner further said the state government had nominated the Agriculture Department as Nodal Department for implementing the scheme.

He said, “Farmers have been asked by the government to fill in self-declaration forms available in the village level agricultural cooperative societies. The forms are to be uploaded on the IT portal created for this purpose by the societies. The funds at the rate of Rs 2,000 as first instalment of the scheme will come in the bank accounts of the farmers by the end of this month.”