December 6, 2023: The government has disbursed over Rs 2.80 lakh crore to more than 11 crore farmers under its flagship PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM Kisan), Parliament was informed on December 5.
A farmer-centric digital infrastructure has ensured the benefits of the scheme reach all the farmers across the country without any involvement of the middlemen, Union minister of agriculture and farmers’ welfare Narendra Singh Tomar told the Lok Sabha in a written reply.
What is PM Kisan scheme?
Launched by the Centre in 2019, the PM Kisan scheme supplements the financial needs of land-holding farmers. Under this scheme, Rs 6,000 is credited in the bank accounts of eligible farmers in three equal instalments every year through the direct-benefits- transfer (DBT) mode.
PM Kisan e-KYC
According to the statement, about 20 lakh farmers have successfully completed their e-KYC since the launch of the PM Kisan application.
Face authentication-based e-KYC on PM Kisan app: The government has developed the PM Kisan mobile app with the feature of face authentication-based e-KYC. This app is the first mobile app which uses face authentication-based e-KYC feature in any benefit scheme of the government.
“This mobile app is easy to use and is easily available for download on Google Playstore. It empowers the farmers to complete their eKYC sitting at home even in remote areas of the country without any OTP or fingerprint, just by scanning their face. This removes the need for farmers to visit Common Service Centres for biometric-based eKYC or mandatory requirement of having mobile linked in their Aadhaar,” said the minister.
Farmers can download the mobile app and do their eKYC on their own. They can also assist 100 other farmers in their neighbourhood to complete e-KYC. In addition to this, the government has also made provisions in the application which allows state officials registered to do e-KYC of up to 500 farmers.
Grievance redressal system under PM Kisan
The government has also set up a robust grievance redressal system, using which farmers can lodge their complaints. This has been made possible by providing a facility on the PM Kisan portal and a 24×7 IVRS facility for effective and timely resolution, the minister informed. Farmers have the option to register their grievances the public grievances portal, too.
PM Kisan AI Chatbot breaking language barriers
The government has developed Kisan e-Mitra (AI Chatbot) to offer digital assistance to farmers to address their queries in their own languages. The Kisan-eMitra, AI Chatbot, is initially available in five languages, English, Hindi, Odiya, Tamil and Bangla.
The move is aimed at empowering the farmers through technological interventions. The Kisan e-Mitra is removing the existing technological and language barriers of the farmers, said the minister.
‘Central schemes changing lives of farmers’
“Agriculture is a state subject. However, the government of India is implementing a comprehensive range of schemes and programmes for the welfare of farmers in the country. These schemes encompass entire spectrum of agriculture including credit, insurance, income support, infrastructure, crops including horticulture, seeds, mechanization, marketing, organic and natural farming, farmer collectives, irrigation, extension, procurement of crops from farmers at minimum support prices, digital agriculture etc. Benefits of some of the schemes called entitlement-based schemes like PMFBY can only be given to farmers if the concerned state government agrees to implement the scheme,” the minister told the Lower House.
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