What is the news:

Over seven lakh farmers in Punjab are bereft of the financial assistance provided under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) Yojana. The state government is still trying to figure out the process to verify those who have self-registered for this assistance are genuine land-owning farmers.

Till date, over 24 lakh farmers in the state have registered to get the minimum income support from the Government of India under the scheme. While the 17.50 lakh farmers, who had signed up for the scheme through the cooperative societies have been getting the benefit and have received seven instalments of the assistance (Rs 2,000 in each one), the remaining seven lakh are still waiting to avail the benefit.

About PM-KISAN Scheme

• PM Kisan is a Central Sector scheme with 100% funding from Government of India which has become operational from 1.12.2018.
• Under the scheme an income support of 6,000/- per year in three equal instalments will be provided to small and marginal farmer families having combined land holding/ownership of upto 2 hectares. As per scheme, the definition of family for the scheme is husband, wife and minor children. State Government and UT administration will identify the farmer families which are eligible for support as per scheme guidelines. The fund will be directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.
• There are various Exclusion Categories for the scheme.

Exclusion Categories:

The following categories of beneificiaries of higher economic status shall not be elligible for benefit under the scheme.

1. All Institutional Land holders.
2. Farmer families which belong to one or more of the following categories:
   1. Former and present holders of constitutional posts
   2. Former and present Ministers/ State Ministers and former/present Members of LokSabha/ RajyaSabha/ State Legislative Assemblies/ State Legislative Councils,former and present Mayors of Municipal Corporations, former and present Chairpersons of District Panchayats.
   3. All serving or retired officers and employees of Central/ State Government Ministries /Offices/Departments and its field units Central or State PSEs and Attached offices /Autonomous Institutions under Government as well as regular employees of the Local Bodies
      (Excluding Multi Tasking Staff /Class IV/Group D employees)
   4. All superannuated/retired pensioners whose monthly pension is Rs.10,000/-or more
      (Excluding Multi Tasking Staff / Class IV/Group D employees) of above category
   5. All Persons who paid Income Tax in last assessment year
   6. Professionals like Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, Chartered Accountants, and Architects registered with Professional bodies and carrying out profession by undertaking practices.