Day after taking oath, PM Modi signs 1st file for release of ‘Kishan Nidhi’ funds

Union Cabinet approves govt assistance for constructing 3 cr houses under PMAY

PTI, 10 June 2024 : Taking charge as prime minister in his third term, Narendra Modi on Monday signed his first file authorising the release of 17th installment of the 'PM Kisan Nidhi' funds amounting to nearly Rs 20,000 crore, which will benefit around 9.3 crore farmers.

After signing on to the release of funds, Modi said, "Ours is a government fully committed to 'kisan kalyan' (farmers' welfare). It is, therefore, fitting that the first file signed on taking charge is related to it. We want to keep working even more for farmers and the agriculture sector in the times to come."

The decision signifies the government's commitment to farmers' welfare following the ruling National Democratic Alliance's poll win, albeit with some setback, especially in parts of rural India. Modi was sworn in as prime minister on Sunday for a record-equalling third term, heading a 72-member Union Council of Ministers. 

M Modi on June 9 was sworn-in for the third term after being elected as the leader of the NDA parliamentary party. PM Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party had secured 240 seats in the Lok Sabha results announced on June 4. 

 “The PM today started his work with the signing of the file for the release of Rs 20,000 crores of Kisan Samman Nidhi. Our government is committed to farmers, the poor, the women and the youth. Our government will run based on our ‘Sankalp Patra’ and fulfil the promises made. Our alliances are together.

It is not like Congress and its allies – they neither have a leader nor unity. We have a leader, agenda and commitment. Our government will be there for the next 5 years and we will continue to serve the nation after that as well,” Union Minister G Kishan Reddy told newspersons. 

The PM Kisan Nidhi scheme was launched ahead of 2019Lok Sabha elections. Under the scheme, which is funded by the Centre, farmers receive Rs 6,000 annually in three installments of Rs 2,000 each every four months and through direct benefit transfer.

Meanwhile, the Union Cabinet in its first meeting under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Modi on Monday approved government assistance for the construction of three crore houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). 

This was the first meeting of the Union Cabinet of Modi3.0 government held at the Prime Minister's7, Lok Kalyan Marg residence. 

The meeting as attended by ministers of all allies of the NDA. "It has been decided in the Cabinet meeting today to provide assistance to three crore additional rural and urban households for the construction of houses to meet the housing requirements arising out of the increase in the number of eligible families," officials said. 

The Government of India is implementing the PMAY since 2015-16 to provide assistance to eligible rural and urban households for the construction of houses with basic amenities. Under PMAY, a total of 4.21 crore houses have been completed for the eligible poor families under the housing schemes in the last 10 years. 

All the houses constructed under PMAY are provided basic amenities like household toilets, LPG connection, electricity connection and functional household tap connection through convergence with other schemes of the central and state governments.