Team Goemkarponn
NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade met Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and submitted a representation seeking inclusion of tenant farmers from Goa under the PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi Scheme.
Tanavade appreciated the Government of India for the successful implementation of PM-KISAN, stating that the scheme has provided crucial financial assistance to farmers across the country. However, he pointed out that in Goa, out of approximately 52,581 cultivating farmers, only around 6,296 are currently benefiting due to the land ownership criteria under the scheme.
He informed the Union Minister that Goa’s agricultural system is governed by the Goa Agricultural Tenancy Act, 1964, under which tenant farmers are recognised as deemed owners with legal cultivation rights. At present, over 20,000 such tenant farmers are actively engaged in agriculture but remain excluded from PM-KISAN benefits.
Tanavade further emphasised that more than 80 percent of Goa’s farmers fall under the small and marginal category, and the annual financial assistance of Rs 6,000 under the scheme would significantly help them manage agricultural expenses.
He requested the Union Minister to take an empathetic view and consider extending PM-KISAN benefits to tenant farmers in Goa to ensure wider coverage of genuine cultivators and equitable distribution of support.
