The Mamata Banerjee government has started to release financial assistance to nearly 1.05 crore farmers and sharecroppers under the state’s Krishak Bandhu (Natun) scheme, which ensures that a farmer gets between Rs 4,000 and Rs 10,000 annually to cultivate their plots.
Owing to the development, Rs 2,900 crore will be directly transferred into the bank accounts of about 1.05 crore farmers, including Bargadars, enrolled under the state government's Krishak Bandhu (Natun) scheme.
This marks the first installment of financial assistance for the Kharif season 2024, with an equal second installment planned for the Rabi season later this year, she said in a post on X.
The timing of the funds release — just few days after the Trinamool Congress bagged 29 out of 42 Lok Sabha seats in Bengal — can be construed as the ruling party's thanksgiving gesture towards the agrarian class, said a source in the state government.
“This government has always been sensitive towards the needs of the agrarian class.... After the Lok Sabha polls, in which the people belonging to the agrarian class showed their support for the ruling party, the bonding between the two has been further strengthened,” said the source, explaining what he meant by “thanksgiving” by the government.
The Krishak Bandu scheme was launched in January 2019 by the state government when farmers were given a maximum of Rs 6,000 annually. On June 17, 2021, after Trinamool returned to power for the third time, the Krishak Bandhu (natun) scheme was launched where the upper limit of the assistance was increased to Rs 10,000 annually.
“This government has always been sensitive towards the needs of the agrarian class.... After the Lok Sabha polls, in which the people belonging to the agrarian class showed their support for the ruling party, the bonding between the two has been further strengthened,” said the source, explaining what he meant by “thanksgiving” by the government.
The Krishak Bandu scheme was launched in January 2019 by the state government when farmers were given a maximum of Rs 6,000 annually. On June 17, 2021, after Trinamool returned to power for the third time, the Krishak Bandhu (natun) scheme was launched where the upper limit of the assistance was increased to Rs 10,000 annually.
Follow us
