Namo Shetkari instalment awaited as farmers eye November 4 meeting; Rs 5,000 drought aid announced

With the wait for the PM Kisan instalment over, farmers in Maharashtra are now looking out for the next instalment of the Namo Shetkari scheme. Meanwhile, the state government has made an announcement for drought-hit farmers. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced that farmers will get a Diwali bonus of Rs 5,000 each. All eyes are on when exactly the money will be credited to their accounts.

According to Mr Fadnavis, 305 tehsils in the state are now drought-hit, up from 265 earlier. Affected farmers in all these tehsils are to receive Rs 5,000 each before Diwali. Farmers in the state, however, are still waiting for the money under the Namo Shetkari Mahasamman Nidhi Yojana.

As per the Maharashtra government's announcement, help will be given to drought-hit farmers. The government is currently conducting a survey to assess the drought conditions. Farmers whose crops were damaged will be eligible for the aid. Some formalities will have to be completed to receive it. Those with crop insurance will find it easier to get help. Farmer registration may also be required, and those who have not yet registered should do so soon.

As for the Namo Shetkari instalment, the eighth instalment of the scheme was disbursed in March. Farmers have been waiting since then for the next instalment of Rs 2,000. The Maharashtra government also gives PM Kisan beneficiaries Rs 6,000 a year, paid in three instalments of Rs 2,000. The 23rd instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi was disbursed on June 20. The date for the 24th PM Kisan instalment is now drawing near. But no information has so far emerged about the ninth instalment of the Namo Shetkari scheme.

It is said that the government may announce it on the occasion of a major festival, which means farmers could get good news before Diwali. No official information has been given on this so far.

It is also possible that the ninth and tenth instalments of the Namo Shetkari Mahasamman Nidhi Yojana will be paid together. If the money is disbursed after Diwali, beneficiary farmers could receive Rs 4,000 together. Meanwhile, an important meeting on the issue is to be held on November 4. It is hoped that a decision on the Namo Shetkari scheme may be taken at the meeting, so farmers are watching it closely.