Centre releases Rs 171 cr for flood-hit farmers in J&K

The Union Government on Tuesday released Rs 171 crore in relief aid for flood-affected farmers in Jammu and Kashmir under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme. The announcement was made in New Delhi by Union Ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Dr Jitendra Singh, who reiterated the Centre’s commitment to supporting farmers during this time of distress.

Chouhan stated that the Central Government “stands firmly with the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” adding that the relief amount will be directly transferred to the bank accounts of 8.5 lakh affected farmers across the Union Territory.

Dr Jitendra Singh further announced that more than 5,000 houses damaged during the recent rainfall in the Jammu division will be reconstructed with financial and technical assistance.

"Each affected household will receive Rs 1.3 lakh as basic support, along with an additional Rs 40,000 per family to be provided by the Ministry of Agriculture," he said.

The minister also highlighted that special provisions are being considered under NDRF and SDRF norms to assist in soil restoration and silt removal from farmland impacted by floods.

Farmers whose crops were damaged will additionally benefit from the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, with the state government and insurance companies expediting damage assessment surveys to ensure timely compensation.

Chouhan assured that the Ministry of Agriculture is committed to ensuring the effective implementation of PM-KISAN and crop insurance schemes, even in the remotest border areas of the Union Territory.

The announcement came during a high-level meeting attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, and other departments involved in relief operations.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for the advance release of the 21st installment of the PM-KISAN scheme.

“This much-needed financial assistance will help our farmers sustain their livelihoods and speed up recovery to resume agricultural activities. Our farmers are the backbone of the economy, providing a strong foundation for growth in other sectors,” Sinha stated on X.