The Indian Government, in its recent update to the Parliament, revealed a notable decline in the number of beneficiaries enrolled under the Prime Minister's flagship Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme, PM-Kisan Scheme. The beneficiary count has decreased by 14%, falling from 10.73 crore in the previous year to 9.21 crore in the fiscal year 2023-24.
Potential Annual Outgo Estimated at Rs 57,000 Crore
If the final count of beneficiaries remains within the projected 9.5 crore, the estimated annual expenditure is anticipated to be approximately Rs 57,000 crore, based on the current disbursal rate of Rs 6,000 per year per farmer. Notably, the government has earmarked Rs 60,000 crore under the PM-Kisan scheme for the financial year 2025.
No Immediate Plan to Increase Payouts, Affirms Agriculture Minister
Responding to queries regarding the possibility of augmenting the financial assistance provided under the PM-Kisan scheme, Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda stated that there are no ongoing considerations to raise the amount from Rs 6,000 to Rs 8,000 or Rs 12,000 per annum for farmers. Arjun Munda referenced the findings of the latest agriculture survey, indicating that approximately 86% of the 14 crore land-owning farmers possess less than 5 hectares of land.
Emphasis on Transparent Disbursement and Digital Infrastructure
The Minister emphasized the government's commitment to transparency in the distribution process, citing the implementation of a farmer-centric digital infrastructure that ensures direct benefit transfers without intermediary involvement. He underscored that over Rs 2.81 lakh crore has been disbursed to more than 11 crore farmers across the nation in 15 instalments, showcasing the scheme's extensive reach and impact.
The reduction in beneficiaries is not indicative of a loss but rather reflects a meticulous process of identifying and verifying eligible recipients. Measures such as Aadhaar authentication have been instrumental in eliminating ineligible beneficiaries and pruning duplications.
According to the operational guidelines of the PM-Kisan scheme, it is the responsibility of state governments to identify and authenticate eligible beneficiaries. The scheme is designed to offer financial assistance to farmers who own land, aiding them in their agricultural pursuits.
The article will soon be updated with state-wise data on the reduction in the number of beneficiaries of PM Kisan once the information becomes available.
