New Delhi: The Modi government disbursed an amount of Rs 15,841 crore as first installment to 7.92 crore farmers under the PM-KISAN scheme, since March 24, the day lockdown was announced to contain the spread of COVID-19.
“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,” the Agriculture Ministry said in a statement on Friday.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme, the Centre annually transfers an amount of Rs 6000 in three equal installments into the bank accounts of the farmers.
Due to lockdown, the farmers would be the most affected, and hence for an immediate relief the government on March 27 had promised to transfer the first installment of Rs 2,000 to each of 8.69 crore beneficiaries under the scheme, by the first week of April.