Modi Government’s Annual Rs. 12,000 Aid to Women Farmers

The Modi administration is reportedly planning a significant initiative for female farmers. Sources suggest that the upcoming interim budget, to be presented on February 1, could include a proposal to double the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme’s payout for female farmers. This move, which comes ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, could see women farmers receiving ₹12,000 annually instead of the current ₹6,000. The funds, aimed at supporting small farmers, are disbursed in three instalments.

Securing Women Farmers’ Support

The BJP government’s strategy appears to be influenced by recent assembly elections in five states, where voters showed faith in the promises made by Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. The success of initiatives like “Ladli Behna” and “Ladli Laxmi Yojana” in garnering women farmers’ support for the BJP, particularly in Madhya Pradesh, seems to have inspired the central government to consider enhancing the Samman Nidhi for women farmers.

Potential Announcement in the Upcoming Budget

Sources within the Ministry of Agriculture indicate that plans are underway to introduce a new category under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana in the budget. This could involve increasing the honorarium for women farmers from ₹6,000 to ₹12,000. The announcement could be made in the interim budget due on February 1. Reports suggest that the Ministries of Agriculture and Finance have completed all necessary preparations, including gathering data on female farmers who own land. The potential impact on the government’s budget has also been considered. However, no official announcement has been made yet.

Impact on the Government’s Budget

Government data shows that out of India’s 260 million farmers in a population of 1.40 billion, women farmers constitute about 60%. However, only 13% of these farmers have agricultural land in their name. If the honorarium for women farmers is doubled, the central government will incur an additional expense of ₹12,000 crore. Given the central government’s total estimated budget of about $550 billion, this additional burden of ₹12,000 crore would not significantly impact the budget structure.