Chennai: Expanding the ambit of the Prime Minister’s Kisan scheme for all farmers in the country besides introducing pension scheme for small traders would go a long way in providing strong social security to large sections of the society, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has said.
The Chief Minister’s reaction and words of praise for the Central schemes come close on the heels of the newly-sworn in NDA government at the Centre making four major decisions related to farmers and traders welfare in the maiden meeting of the Union Cabinet. It approved the extension of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) to all the farmers in the country from covering farmers with two hectares of land, in the past.
Also, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Pension Yojana for small and marginal farmers will ensure them a minimum fixed pension of Rs 3,000 per month upon att-aining the age of 60 years.
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a copy of which was made available to the media here on Monday, Mr. Palaniswami said, “on behalf of the farmers of Tamil Nadu, I thank you for having generously expanded the ambit of the Prime Minister’s Kisan scheme to include all the land holding eligible farmer families, announcing the Pension Scheme for small and marginal farmers, as well as the decision of Government of India to bear the entire cost for the control of Foot and Mouth disease and Brucellosis in support of livestock rearing farmers.”
The PM’s decision to provide pension coverage to shopkeepers, retail traders and self-employed persons “is certainly a path breaking initiative” the CM said.
“The above Schemes will provide strong social security to large sections of our society. These decisions of the Union Cabinet under your leadership will be of immense benefit to the farmers, traders, self-employed persons and to the society as a whole,” Mr. Palaniswami said.
He assured Mr. Modi of his government’s support to these efforts, by ensuring impeccable implementation of these schemes.
