Modi to release PM-KISAN instalment to 9 crore farmers on Dec 25

'The farmers will share their experiences with PM-KISAN and also on various other initiatives taken by the government for the welfare of farmers,' PMO said

Stepping in to a counter anti-farmer narrative built by the Opposition in the backdrop of unabated farmer protests for nearly a month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have a conversation with farmers from six agriculture dominated states on December 25 and release a sum of over Rs 18,000 crores to more than nine crore beneficiary farmer families under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN).

Modi will release the next instalment of the financial benefits under the scheme via video-conferencing. The farmers will share their experiences with PM-KISAN. The Prime Minister will also talk to them on various other initiatives taken by the government for the welfare of farmers. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, who has been negotiating with the agitating farmer for the last few weeks, will also be present.

Under the PM-KISAN Scheme, a financial benefit of Rs 6000 is given to eligible beneficiary farmers annually which is payable in three equal instalments of Rs 2000 every four months. The fund is transferred directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.

The Prime Minister, meanwhile, paid tributes to former prime minister and farmer leader Chaudhary Charan Singh, recalling his lifelong commitment to the development of farmers, while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on this day lauded the farmers for providing the country with grain security and expressed hope that the farmers protesting against farm laws will soon withdraw their agitation while reiterating the Centre's commitment to their welfare.

Even as five rounds of formal talks between the government and the protesting unions have failed to break the logjam, Agriculture Minister Tomar expressed hope that protesting farmers will soon come forward to resume their dialogue with the Centre to resolve their concerns. He also said that the government will continue with reforms in the farm sector as they are still due in many areas.

He said the government is ready to listen to farmers' issues with an "open heart". The minister was on Wednesday given six boxes of letters with signatures of 3,13,363 lakh farmers from 20 states, including from Punjab through the Confederation of NGOs of Rural India (CNRI) that has extended their support to the farm laws.