Farmers' Protest: As the protest of farmers against the three contentious laws passed by Centre clocks 30 straight days on the calendar, the government will launch its outreach initiative and will seek to placate the farmers through Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN).


Also Read: Rs 18,000 Cr Transfer, PM Modi's Address: BJP's Mega Farmer Outreach Plan For Vajpayee's Birthday On Friday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the next instalment of the financial benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) today via video-conferencing.

Taking to Twitter, Prime Minsiter Modi said: “Tomorrow's day is very important for the country's Annadatas. Will get the opportunity to release the next installment of PM-Kisan for more than 9 crores farmer families through video conferencing at 12 pm. Will also interact with farmers of many states on this occasion.”

With the push of a button, Modi will enable the transfer of more than Rs 18,000 crore to over nine crore beneficiary farmer families, it added.

Modi will also interact with farmers from six states during the event, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said.

"The farmers will share their experiences with PM-KISAN and also on various other initiatives taken by the government for the welfare of farmers," it said.

Under the PM-KISAN scheme, a financial benefit of Rs 6,000 per year is provided to small and marginal farmers, payable in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 each. The fund is transferred directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.

BJP’s outreach programme:

The Prime Minister’s session with farmers is a part of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s nationwide outreach to the farmers on December 25, the birthday of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The programme coincides with the completion of one month of protests by various farmer unions against the three farm laws recently enacted by the Modi government.

The Centre on Thursday invited protesting farmer unions again for resumption of the stalled talks and asked them to choose a date of their convenience to end the impasse over the three new Agri laws.  But the farmer unions alleged that the government's latest letter for talks is nothing but a propaganda against the peasants to create an impression they are not interested in dialogue, and asked it to put the scrapping of the new farm laws in the agenda to resume the parleys.