Prime Minister Narendra Modi after inaugurating Shivamogga airport and laying foundation stones for a slew of development projects in and around the district on Monday, has released the 13th instalment amount of about Rs 16,000 crores under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) in Belagavi.
While addressing a gathering at Belagavi, PM Modi took a dig at the opposition in Karnataka by saying Congress hates the state. "We have transferred Rs. 16,000 crore to farmers from across the country from here eliminating the middlemen. Had it been congress' rule, over Rs. 12,000 crore would have been lost out of Rs. 16,000 crore," PM Modi said in Belagavi.
He stated that small farmers have been neglected for many years before. "Small farmers have been neglected for decades, but these farmers are our priority under BJP’s rule. Rs 2.5 Lakh crore has been deposited through PM Kisan Samman Nidhi in the accounts of our farmers," the PM added.
The PM-KISAN scheme released will be a direct benefits transfer to over 8 crore beneficiaries. Under the scheme, eligible farmer families are provided with a benefit of Rs 6,000 per year in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 each.
During the Programme, the Prime Minister also dedicated the redeveloped Belagavi Railway Station building to the nation. PM Modi also dedicated the rail line doubling project between the Londa-Belagavi-Ghataprabha section at Belagavi.
The PM also laid the foundation stone of six multi-village scheme projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission in Belagavi, which will be developed at a cumulative cost of about Rs 1,585 crore and is estimated to benefit about 8.8 lakh population of over 315 villages.