Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday released the 24th instalment of PM-Kisan, transferring more than ₹18,000 crore to the bank accounts of nearly 10 crore farmers, Hindustan Times reported. He was speaking at Bhildi in Gujarat's Banaskantha district.
"Today, another instalment of PM-KISAN has reached the accounts of farmers of the nation," he said. More than 50 lakh farmers in Gujarat received over ₹1,000 crore, and nearly ₹50 crore went to farmers in Banaskantha, he said.
Projects in Banaskantha
Mr. Modi inaugurated the 127-acre Bharat Bovine Breeding and Research Centre at Bhildi, devoted to the Kankrej cattle breed, which is expected to speed up breed improvement 10 to 20 times. He launched and laid foundation stones for projects worth ₹14,000 crore, including two Bio-CNG plants of Banas Dairy at Tharad and Radhanpur.
His remarks on 'rumours'
Taking a veiled dig at the opposition, he said: "Some spread rumours after Iran war that farmers would not get fertilisers, and people LPG, only to defame Modi." He did not name anyone. He also said he would serve the people "till my last breath". The remarks came days after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's comment, "Modi ka baap bhi jayega".
Why it matters
PM-Kisan pays eligible farmer families ₹6,000 a year in three instalments of ₹2,000. The money arrives ahead of the rabi sowing season, when farmers need cash for seeds and fertiliser. Mr. Modi said the agriculture budget is now more than five times what it was in 2013-14.