PM Modi Visit to Varanasi
After winning the Lok Sabha election in 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to make his first visit to Varanasi of Uttar Pradesh under Modi 3.0. He is off to Varanasi on Tuesday, 18 June 2024 to distribute the 17th instalment of the PM KISAN scheme. This scene is an initiative to provide financial aid to eligible farmer families and double their income by 2022. As per reports, PM Modi will distribute more than ₹20,000 crore to over 9.2 crore farmers. Apart from distributing money, PM Modi will also issue certificates to over 30,000 SHgs trained as Krishi Sakhis, who will work as part extension workers.
This comes as the Prime Minister authorized the release of the 17th instalment of PM Kisan Nidhi after assuming office for the third term. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Governor Anandiben Patel and many other state ministers will attend the event alongside PM Modi. Speaking of the full schedule of PM Modi in Varanasi, he is likely to stay in the state for about 4.5 hours. Around 04:00 PM, Modi will land at the Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Babatpur. After landing, he will directly come to attend the PM Kisan Samman Sammelan at 05:00 PM.
2,76,665 farmers in Kashi would gain from the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme when Modi releases the latest instalment in Varanasi. PM Modi will also meet 21 farmers and review the produce. Modi will visit the Ghat and witness the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat of Varanasi at 07:00 PM and end his visit to Varanasi with a visit to Kashi Vishwanath Temple at 08:00 PM. To keep the safety of PM Modi, the administration department of the temple has already received protocol. As per Vishwa Bhusan Mishra, CEO of Kashi Vishwanath temple, the PM will stay inside the temple premises for around 20-25 minutes.
What Is the PM Kisan Scheme?
The scheme was introduced by PM Modi in 2019 with the vision to provide financial help to all farmers who are holding lands. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) option is used to deposit benefits totalling ₹6,000 annually into the bank accounts of farmers’ families nationwide in three equal installments every four months. Over 11 crore farmers nationwide have received payments under the programme totalling ₹3.04 lakh crores thus far.
“This financial assistance will support farmers in meeting their agriculture and other incidental needs. A farmer-centric digital infrastructure has ensured the benefits of the scheme reach all the farmers across the country without any involvement of middlemen,” said Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. He included in his statement that “Maintaining absolute transparency in registering and verifying beneficiaries, the Government of India has disbursed over ₹3.04 lakh crore to more than 11 crore farmers across the nation. With this release, the total amount transferred to the beneficiaries since the inception of the scheme will cross well over ₹3.24 lakh crore.”
Speaking of the participation of the farmers in the event, on Monday, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare said more than 2.5 crore farmers will attend the event. These attendees include 5 lakh Common Service Centres nationwide, 732 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), and more than 1 lakh Primary Agricultural Cooperative societies.
The welfare said, “On the 50 selected Krishi Vikas Kendras (KVKs), a special event is being organized where a good number of farmers will join the event. At these centres, several Union Ministers will also visit and interact with the farmers.”