New Delhi, Oct 07 (KNO): In a major relief initiative for farmers affected by recent floods and landslides in Jammu & Kashmir, the Union Minister for Agriculture, Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on Monday released the 21st installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme in advance.
The installment, amounting to Rs 171 crore, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), was transferred directly to the bank accounts of 8.55 lakh farmers, including 85,418 women beneficiaries, through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. With this, the cumulative assistance under PM-KISAN for farmers in Jammu & Kashmir has reached Rs 4,052 crore.
The release function was held at Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi, and attended by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, Agriculture Secretary Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi, ICAR DG Dr. Mangi Lal Jat, and other senior officials. Jammu & Kashmir Agriculture Minister Javed Ahmad Dar, along with officials and farmers from across the Union Territory, joined the event virtually.
Speaking on the occasion, Chouhan reiterated the Centre’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of farmers and disaster-affected families in Jammu & Kashmir. “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government stands shoulder to shoulder with every affected farmer and citizen. We will ensure that no one is left alone in this hour of crisis,” he said.
Highlighting the government’s relief and rehabilitation measures, Chouhan announced that the Union Ministry of Rural Development has sanctioned Rs 85.62 crore under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY-Gramin) for the reconstruction of 5,100 damaged houses. Each beneficiary will receive support for house rebuilding, toilet construction, and additional financial aid under the MGNREGA scheme.
The Minister stated that the Centre has approved an increase in MGNREGA workdays from 100 to 150 days for affected families in Jammu & Kashmir, providing additional livelihood opportunities during the recovery phase.
Chouhan assured that the Union Government is fully prepared to assist in the revival of agricultural activities across affected regions, including support for seeds, fertilisers, and essential inputs. He also said that additional funds could be released under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) upon the Jammu & Kashmir Government’s request.
On the issue of crop insurance, the Minister added that compensation to insured farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) will be disbursed promptly once the State Government submits its proposal, ensuring direct transfer of funds to farmers’ accounts.
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh also addressed the event and lauded the Agriculture Ministry for its swift and compassionate action. He said the relief measures reflect the Centre’s “sensitivity and responsiveness” toward the people of Jammu & Kashmir during difficult times.
Jammu & Kashmir Agriculture Minister Javed Ahmad Dar thanked the Central Government for the timely intervention, stating that the release of funds under PM-KISAN and the additional assistance through PMAY-Gramin and MGNREGA would provide much-needed relief to thousands of affected farming families—(KNO)