Correspondent, 23 October: Amidst increasing drought intensity in the state, two installments of the 'Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana' have not yet been deposited into farmers' accounts. During this crisis, approximately 92 lakh eligible farmers are waiting for this financial assistance of Rs 4,000. However, the government has not yet provided any official information regarding these pending installments.
Rural areas are currently facing severe water scarcity and an animal fodder crisis. With people migrating to cities for employment and livelihood, some villages have started to become deserted. There is fear that the situation will turn even more severe in the next two to three months. With the possibility of losing the Rabi season, agricultural income has already decreased. Worried about managing their families and livestock during these hardships, farmers are heavily relying on government assistance.
The state government launched this scheme in October 2023 along the lines of the 'PM Kisan Samman Nidhi'. Similar to the central program, financial aid of Rs 6,000 is provided annually in three phases. Currently, the ninth and tenth installments of the Namo Shetkari Yojana are pending, requiring Rs 3,700 crore. Proposals seeking approval for these funds were sent in March and July, but they have not yet been cleared.
Meanwhile, the state government has announced an aid of Rs 5,000 before Diwali for farmers in drought-affected areas, which is likely to increase according to government criteria. On the other hand, installments for the PM Kisan Yojana are being deposited regularly. The 24th installment of this scheme, amounting to Rs 2,000, is expected to reach farmers' accounts by the end of this month or the first week of November. Against this backdrop, the farming community is demanding the immediate deposit of the pending Rs 4,000 from the Namo Yojana to provide major financial relief.
