The Maharashtra State Organic Growers Association (MSOGA) has called on the central and state governments to immediately extend the benefits of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi and the Namo Shetkari Mahasamman Nidhi schemes to all eligible farmers who have been left out. MSOGA founder-President Bharat Dighole stated, "The Centre and State must make an immediate policy decision to ensure that all such eligible farmers are included under both schemes."
Exclusion of Eligible Farmers
According to MSOGA, a significant number of farmers who meet the eligibility criteria have not received the financial benefits under either scheme. The association estimates that over 2 million farmers in Maharashtra alone are yet to be covered. Dighole emphasized that the exclusion undermines the schemes' objectives of providing income support to small and marginal farmers.
Details of the Schemes
The PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi is a central government initiative that provides an annual income support of Rs 6,000 to eligible farmer families, paid in three equal installments. The Namo Shetkari Mahasamman Nidhi is a Maharashtra state scheme that offers an additional Rs 6,000 per year to farmers who are beneficiaries of PM-Kisan. Together, these schemes aim to provide a total of Rs 12,000 annually to each eligible farmer family.
MSOGA's Demand for Immediate Action
Dighole urged both governments to review the current beneficiary lists and rectify the exclusion errors. He noted that many farmers have been wrongly denied benefits due to technical issues such as Aadhaar seeding errors, land record discrepancies, or delays in data upload. MSOGA has submitted a memorandum to the state agriculture department demanding a time-bound resolution.
Impact on Farmers
The exclusion has caused financial distress among small and marginal farmers, who rely on this income support for purchasing seeds, fertilizers, and other inputs. Dighole warned that continued exclusion could force farmers into debt and affect agricultural productivity. He called for a transparent grievance redressal mechanism to address individual cases.
Response from Authorities
As of the report, no official response has been issued by the central or state governments. However, MSOGA plans to escalate the matter to the Prime Minister's Office and the Chief Minister's Office if no action is taken within the next month.
