VARANASI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Varanasi on June 18 to release Rs 20,000 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme. After taking charge of the country for the third time, this is the first time PM Modi will visit ‘Kashi’.
This visit marks the release of the 17th installment of the scheme, benefiting approximately 9.26 crore farmers across India. The announcement was made by Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, during a press conference on Saturday.
During his visit, PM Modi will also present certificates to over 30,000 women from self-help groups recognised as Krishi Sakhis. The event, coordinated by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the Government of Uttar Pradesh, will see the Prime Minister addressing the Kisan Samman Sammelan in Mehndiganj, located in the Sevapuri assembly.
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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will accompany him throughout the visit.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency, will begin with his arrival at the Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Babatpur around 3:30 PM on June 18. From there, he will travel by helicopter to the Mehndiganj rally site to address the farmers’ gathering.
In addition to releasing funds and distributing certificates, PM Modi will participate in the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat. Before filing his nomination, the PM visited lord Vishwanath and Maa Ganga. After winning the election and securing his third term as Prime Minister, he will once again bow at Baba Vishwanath’s shrine. The Prime Minister will stay overnight at Bareka and depart for Delhi on the morning of June 19.
The PM-KISAN scheme, launched in February 2019, provides ₹6,000 annually in three equal instalments of ₹2,000 directly into the Aadhaar-linked bank accounts of farmers. The 17th instalment, amounting to over ₹20,000 crores, will be distributed to more than 9.26 crore beneficiary farmers with a single click by the Prime Minister from Varanasi.
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Since its inception, the scheme has disbursed over ₹3.04 lakh crore to more than 11 crore farmers nationwide. With the latest release, the total amount transferred will exceed ₹3.24 lakh crore.
BJP workers and the residents of Kashi are preparing a grand welcome for PM Modi. Celebrations will include drums, nagadas, damru troupes, conch shells, and showers of rose petals along the route from the police line to Dashashwamedh Ghat and the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Gate No. 4.
The event will also see the participation of 2.5 crore farmers nationwide, with 732 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), over 1 lakh Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies, and 5 lakh Common Service Centres (CSCs) joining to raise awareness among farmers. Several Union Ministers will visit 50 KVKs to interact with farmers and distribute certificates to trained Krishi Sakhis.