Belagavi (K’taka): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday released the 13th instalment of over Rs 16,000 crore, under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), through direct benefit transfer to more than eight crore beneficiaries.
Under the scheme, eligible farmer families are provided Rs 6,000 per year in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 each.
During the programme, Modi also dedicated the redeveloped Belagavi Railway Station building, to the nation. The railway station has been redeveloped at an approximate cost of about Rs 190 crore to provide world-class amenities to the passengers.
Another railway project that was dedicated to the nation by the Prime Minister is the rail line doubling project between Londa-Belagavi-Ghataprabha section at Belagavi.
This project, developed at a cost of about Rs 930 crore, will enhance line capacity along the busy Mumbai Pune Hubballi Bengaluru railway line, leading to promotion of trade, commerce and economic activities in the region, according to an official release.
Modi also laid the foundation stone of six multi-village scheme projects under the Centre’s Jal Jeevan Mission in Belagavi, which will be developed at a cumulative cost of about Rs 1,585 crore and benefit about 8.8 lakh people living in more than 315 villages.
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar, and Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister of state Shobha Karandlaje, ministers of the state government, among others were present at the event.
PM Modi is on a day-long visit to Karnataka, where Assembly polls are due in May. He inaugurated the greenfield Shivamogga airport earlier in the day.
The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme, launched by Modi in 2019, aims to provide income support to all landholder farmer families across the country with cultivable land, subject to specific exclusions.
All landholding farmer families in the country are eligible under PM-KISAN, subject to certain exclusion criteria. Till now, over Rs 2.25 lakh crore funds have been disbursed to more than 11 crore farmer families, primarily the small and marginal.
According to officials, during the Covid lockdown, Rs 1.75 lakh crore were distributed in multiple instalments to support these farmers facing hardship. The scheme has also benefited over three crore women beneficiaries who have collectively received over Rs 53,600 crore in funds.
The 11th and 12th instalments under the scheme were given in May and October last year.
Those wearing ‘hawai chappals’ should travel in ‘hawai jahaz’, says PM Modi
“Those wearing ‘hawai chappals’ should travel in ‘hawai jahaz’ (aircraft). I’m seeing it happening”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday as he highlighted that India’s aviation market is growing rapidly.
Speaking at a public meeting after inaugurating the Shivamogga airport, he said in the coming days India will need thousands of aircraft, and the days of Made-in-India passenger aircraft are not far.
Modi also took a dig at the Congress, saying before 2014 Air-India was often discussed for negative reasons, and the company was recognised for scams during that party’s rule.
The inauguration of the airport coincided with the 80th birthday of Karnataka BJP strongman and four-time Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who hails from Shivamogga district.
Modi asked people to switch on their mobile flash lights to commemorate Yediyurappa’s birthday.
Karnataka has made up its mind to repeatedly give opportunity to “double engine” government, he said.
This is Modi’s fifth visit this year to the State, where Assembly elections are due by May.
The new airport has been developed at a cost of around Rs 450 crore. The passenger terminal building of the airport can handle 300 passengers per hour.
The airport is expected to improve connectivity and accessibility from Shivamogga and other neighbouring areas in the Malnad region of Karnataka, officials said
In all, the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 3,600 crore here.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Yediyurappa were among those present on the occasion.
