Small and marginal farmers are the lifeblood of the agriculture sector and vital contributors to the rural economy. However, they often face financial hardships due to climate change and other factors. The Maharashtra government’s Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana is an initiative that works in tandem with the Central Government’s PM Kisan Samman Nidhi to provide financial assistance to the small farmers of the state and support the rural economy. Similar to the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, through which the central government pays Rs. 6,000 every year to small farmers, the Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana provides financial aid of Rs. 6,000 annually to each registered small farmer in the state. making it a total of Rs. 12,000 financial assistance per annum for each small farmer in the state, deposited to their registered bank account. The Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana, which currently benefits nearly 1.15 crore farmer families, was launched during the Mahayuti government 1.0 in which Devendra Fadnavis took a key role as the Dy. CM and Finance Minister who allocated Rs. 6,900 crore for this scheme in the 2023-24 state budget.
Namo Shetkari Samman Nidhi Yojana – Namo Shetkari Samman Nidhi
2023
Then Finance Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the ‘Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana’ in his budget speech for 2023-24 presented on 9 March 2023. – Budget Speech 9 March 2023 (Page No. 5)
Devendra Fadnavis, then Finance Minister, Maharashtra, announced during his 2023-24 budget speech, the state government’s decision to introduce the Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana, which will provide financial assistance to the farmers in line with the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Samman Nidhi Yojana to double the income support for the farmers in the state.
Subsequently, this decision was approved in the cabinet meeting on May 30, 2023.
As per the proposal, farmers will get a total of Rs. 12000 (Rs. 6000 each from the center and the state) per annum towards income support through the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Samman Nidhi Yojana and the Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana, respectively. For the state’s scheme of the Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana, it was decided that Rs. 2000 would be deposited directly into the bank account of the registered farmers every 4 months starting the 1st installment disbursement in April 2023, followed by the 2nd and 3rd installments in July and November, respectively. To benefit from this scheme, registration through the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana on the P.M. Kisan portal was made compulsory.
Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana – Cabinet Meeting Decision No. 3, May 30, 2023
On the lines of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, ‘Namo Shetkari Mahasamman Nidhi’ yojana in the state, ensuring Rs. 6000 financial assistance from the state in addition to the center’s grant of Rs. 6000 for the farmers in the state.
As announced by Finance Minister Devendra Fadnavis in his Budget speech for 2023-24, the state government approved the launch of the Namo Kshetra Mahasman Nidhi scheme in 2023-24 itself, to provide monetary aid of Rs 6,000 per annum to the farmers in the state, registered under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Samman Nidhi Yojana. Accordingly, a government circular was issued on 15 June 2023
Criteria for Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana
This scheme is identical to the PM Krishi Samman Nidhi Yojana. and incorporates the same rules and conditions used in the central government’s scheme.
The rules and conditions set in the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Samman Nidhi Yojana have been replicated in this scheme.
All beneficiary farmers from the state for the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana and registered on the PM Kishan portal will be eligible for the Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana.
At the same time, beneficiaries who are newly registered on the P.M. Kisan portal and are eligible can also take advantage of this scheme.
The amount is being deposited directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiary farmers by the state government.
Government Decision June 15, 2023 – Approval to implement the Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana
Financial assistance to farmers due to Namo Shetkari Yojana – Tweet 17 June 2023
‘Namo Shetkari’ scheme to provide financial assistance to farmers – YouTube 17 June 2023
Approval was given on 10th October 2023 to disburse Rs 1720 crore towards the first installment from April to July under the Namo Shetkari Mahasamman Nidhi Yojana.
Government Decision for Disbursement of First Instalment – 10th October 2023
Namo Shetkari Mahasamman Yojana approved – Tweet 12 October 2023
The Shetkari Mahasamman Nidhi Yojana was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 27 October 2023, by sending Rs 1712.02 crore to the accounts of 85 lakh 60 thousand farmers in the state with a single click.
State Namo Shetkari Mahasamman Nidhi Yojana inspired by the Central Government – Tweet 27 October 2023
2024
Approval was given on 21st February 2024 to disburse the second installment of Rs. 1792 crore under the Namo Shetkari Mahasamman Nidhi Yojana for August to November.
Government Decision on Disbursement of Second Instalment – 21st February 2024
Approval was given on 23 February 2024 to disburse the third installment of Rs 2,000 crore under the Namo Shetkari Mahasamman Nidhi Yojana for December to March.
Government decision for distribution of the third installment – 23 February 2024
Approval was given on 20th August 2024 to disburse the fourth installment of Rs 2061 crore from April to July of 2024 under the Namo Shetkari Mahasamman Nidhi Yojana.
Government Decision on Disbursement of Fourth Installment – 20th August 2024