Rajasthan CM’s Welfare Initiatives at Kisan Sammelan

• 18 Dec 2024

Why in News? 

Recently, The Chief Minister of Rajasthan transferred Rs 700 crore as the second installment of the Kisan Samman Nidhi to the bank accounts of over 70 lakh farmers and credited Rs 200 crore to 3.25 lakh cattle breeders as assistance of Rs 5 per litre of milk. 

 Key Points 

• Direct Benefit Transfers to Farmers: 
  • Under the Direct Benefit Transfers Rs 29 crore transferred to 15,983 farmers for drip and sprinkler irrigation equipment. 
    • Rs 96 crore disbursed to 14,200 farmers for activities like fencing, laying pipelines, farm pond construction, organic manure, and agricultural equipment. 
    • Rs 80 crore allocated for the installation of 8,000 solar pumps. 
• Recognition of Progressive Farmers: 
  • The Chief Minister honoured 10 innovative farmers under the Centrally sponsored ATMA Yojana. 
• Investment in Agriculture: 
  • 2,500 MoUs signed for Rs 58,000 crore investment in agriculture during the Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit held in Jaipur. 
• Key Decisions for Farmer Welfare: 
  • Distribution of short-term crop loans worth Rs 20,000 crore to 30 lakh farmers. 
  • Issuance of eight lakh soil health cards. 
  • Installation of 26,000 solar plants. 
  • Allotment of land for food parks at 31 locations. 
  • Procurement of wheat, moong, groundnut, and mustard at minimum support prices (MSP). 
• Launch of New Schemes: 
  • Introduced a livestock insurance scheme. 
  • Announced a camel conservation and development mission. 
  • Initiated the installation of cow dung log machines in 100 gaushalas. 
  • Launched 1,000 new milk collection centres and installed 200 new bulk milk coolers. 

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) 

• About: 
  • It was launched on 24^th February, 2019 to supplement financial needs of land holding farmers. 
• Financial Benefits: 
  • Financial benefit of Rs 6000/- per year in three equal installments, every four months is transferred into the bank accounts of farmers’ families across the country through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode. 
• Scope of the Scheme: 
  • The scheme was initially meant for Small and Marginal Farmers (SMFs) having landholding upto 2 hectares but scope of the scheme was extended to cover all landholding farmers. 
• Funding and Implementation: 
  • It is a Central Sector Scheme with 100% funding from the Government of India. 
  • It is being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. 
• Objectives: 
  • To supplement the financial needs of the Small and Marginal Farmers in procuring various inputs to ensure proper crop health and appropriate yields, commensurate with the anticipated farm income at the end of each crop cycle. 
  • To protect them from falling in the clutches of moneylenders for meeting such expenses and ensure their continuance in the farming activities.