PM Modi's farm sop to be distributed on February 24

New Delhi: The first instalment of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Samman Nidhi of Rs 2,000 each is expected to disbursed to farmers as Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses his last Mann Ki Baat programme on February 24 ahead of the Lok Sabha poll schedule announcement.

The PM is himself likely to take part in the subsidy distribution ceremony of the first instalment at Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh — an electorally significant constituency which was lost to the BJP in bypolls last year — and was earlier represented by UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath.

Sources said this month’s Mann Ki Baat will be a special one as a majority of the council of ministers, BJP MPs and other senior leaders have been asked to head for rural areas and listen to the programme with ordinary folk. They are then expected to take part in distribution of the first instalment to farmers.