The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare is taking several measures to help and support the farmers as well as farming activities at field level during the ongoing lockdown in the country.
Under the Government’s ambitious Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi popularly known PM-KISAN scheme during the lockdown i.e. from 24 March 2020 to 20 April 2020, around 8.89 crore farmer families have been benefitted. In addition an amount of Rs. 17,793 crore has been released until now. To recall, under PM-Kisan, small and marginal farmers of the country are given financial help of Rs. 6000 per year in three instalments. It is a very beneficial government scheme for the farmers.
So as to provide food security during the prevailing situation because of COVID-19 pandemic, the Centre has decided to distribute pulses to the eligible families under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana or PMGKY. So far, about 107,077.85 MT pulses have been issued to different States and Union Territories
Moreover, under PMGKY, the States or UTs namely Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Goa, Gujarat Chhattisgarh, Daman & Diu and A&N have started the distribution of pulses to the beneficiaries. On the other hand, states like Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, have received the partial stock and will begin the distribution to the beneficiaries in phased manner according to their plan.
The distribution of pulses under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana is to benefit as many as 19.50 crore household spread across 36 States & Union territories.
