Modi launches PM Kisan Yojna, says first installment of Rs 2,000 paid to 1.01 crore farmers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched his ambitious PM Kisan Yojna on Sunday from Gorakhpur — Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was also in attendance — which aims to give the country's small and marginal farmers income support of Rs 6,000 a year. 

Modi said in Gorakhpur that the first installment of the money — there will be three a year of Rs 2,000 each — had been paid into the accounts of 1.01 crore farmers. "Today is a historic day," Modi said. 

He added that farmers who had not got the first payment would get it in the coming days. 

He added added that "for us also loan waivers would have been easy and convenient" but "we cannot commit such a crime". The loan waivers have been given by the opposition Congress under Rahul Gandhi. 

"This is your money and no one will be able to take it from you," Modi told the country's farmers. He said the scheme had been made foolproof so that no one can snatch away their rights and he added that middlemen will play no role in the scheme. 

Modi warned "state governments who are looking to play politics with PM Kisan Yojna" that "if you indulge in this, then curse of farmers will destroy your politics". 

To the farmers, he appealed that they not be "misled by anyone". 

And that "Mahamilavti logon ke moonh utre huye thhe Parliament mein jab scheme batayi gyi". 

The PM Kisan Yojna was announced in this year's interim budget and envisions the payment of the Rs 6,000 a year to 12 crore farmers who own less than 5 acres of land. The scheme is expected to cost the exchequer Rs 75,000 crore a year. 

The aid was a response to the massive levels of farmer distress reported from the country's rural areas.