Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency, on June 18 for the first time after beginning his third term in office. During this visit, he will release the 17th installment of the PM-KISAN scheme, amounting to over Rs 20,000 crore, benefiting 9.26 crore farmers across India. Additionally, he will honor more than 30,000 members of Self Help Groups (SHGs) who have been trained as 'Krishi Sakhis' to support fellow farmers with agricultural practices.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan highlighted the government's dedication to the agriculture sector in a media briefing. "Agriculture has always been a priority for the PM. He has taken several key decisions in the interest of farmers. After taking the oath as PM, Modi ji first signed a file related to the release of the 17th installment of the PM-KISAN scheme," Chouhan said.
Launched in 2019, PM-KISAN is a Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) initiative that provides beneficiary farmers with an annual sum of Rs 6,000 in three equal installments to support their financial needs. Since its inception, the Centre has disbursed over Rs 3.04 lakh crore to more than 11 crore farmers across the country.
The event in Varanasi is expected to be attended by Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and various state ministers.
The Krishi Sakhi scheme, a collaborative effort with the rural development ministry, will also be highlighted during the visit. This scheme aims to train 90,000 women from SHGs as para-extension agriculture workers to assist the farming community and generate additional income. So far, over 34,000 Krishi Sakhis out of the targeted 70,000 have been certified as para-extension workers across 12 states, including Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Odisha, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, and Meghalaya.
The government is also preparing a 100-day plan for the agriculture sector, emphasizing its commitment to the welfare of farmers and the overall development of the agricultural landscape in the country.
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