Farmers Scheme: Ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has made a major announcement regarding farmers and unemployed youth. She announced that owners of one kattha of land will receive Rs 4,000 annually. Additionally, electricity will be made free for farmers.
Mamata Banerjee said that women are receiving money under the Lakshmi Bhandar scheme, and now, under the Yuva Sathi scheme, unemployed youth who have passed the 10th grade will receive Rs 1,500 per month. This amount will be available starting in April, not August. She said that Agriculture, Irrigation, Power, Youth Department will organize these camps from February 15 to February 26 (except holidays) from 10 am to 5 pm.
Annual assistance of 4,000 to landless agricultural workers
According to the new policy of the state government, agricultural workers who do not own any land but work on other people’s land for their livelihood will now get direct financial assistance of Rs 4,000 per annum. Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya clarified in her budget speech that eligible agricultural workers will not be deprived of this benefit even if they do not own land.
Payment method: This grant will not be given in one go. For the convenience of the farmers, it has been divided into two equal installments: 1. First installment: Rs. 2,000 in Rabi season. 2. Second installment: Rs. 2,000 in Kharif season.
The Chief Minister said from Nabanna that the money from this project will start being sent to the accounts of the beneficiaries from next April. In addition to cash support, significant measures have been implemented to lower water costs in agriculture. Previously, farmers had to pay between Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,000 to the government for using water or pumps for their farming needs. If they sourced water from private companies, the expenses could soar to Rs 3,000, which would have placed a heavy financial strain on them.
Special camps will be set up in each assembly constituency.Willing agricultural workers will have to go to that camp and register their names along with the necessary documents.
How does this differ from the Krishak Bandhu project?
The state already has a ‘Krishak Bandhu’ program that provides Rs 10,000 to landowners with more than 1 acre and Rs 4,000 to those with smaller plots. However, this assistance was limited to landowners only. Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya mentioned that with this new initiative, all agricultural workers without land will also receive Rs 4,000. This means that even those who do not own land will still benefit from government support, ensuring that the diligent farmers of Bengal are not left out.