Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched his government’s flagship scheme for farmers, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), from Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur on Sunday.

The scheme proposes to give Rs 6,000 to farmers in three instalments annually.

Calling it a historic day, Modi said this is a scheme that will give wings to the aspirations of crores of hardworking farmers of India who feed our nation.

The launch of the scheme demonstrated two things, Modi said — NDA’s unwavering commitment to farmer welfare and speedy decision making, being launched on February 24 after having announced it on February 1.

Read highlights here

5:22 pm IST The year’s Kumbh gave out the message of cleanliness: PM Modi This year’s Kumbh wasn’t confined to a religious gathering but also gave out the social message of cleanliness: PM Modi





5:20 pm IST PM Modi praise work of police force PM Modi praised the police for their constant efforts. He said the police force helped people who got lost in Kumbh get in touch with their family at remarkable speed.





5:10 pm IST Whatever I have gotten as PM in these past few years, I’ve contributed to Maa Gange: PM Modi I’ve never seen a more cleaner Ganga previously and it has been because of Namami Gange project. The amount collected after auctioning the presents that I received in the past 4.5 years as the Prime Minister are being used in the service of Maa Ganga: PM Modi I’ve contributed the amount of Seoul Peace Prize of around Rs 1.3 crore to Namami Gange mission: PM Modi





5:10 pm IST Swachh Kumbh is coinciding with Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary: PM Modi Swachh Kumbh is taking place at a time when we were celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi: PM Modi The country is moving towards declaring itself open-defecation free before October 2 this year. I believe that you ‘swacchagrahi’ of Prayagraj have come forward as an inspiration for the entire nation: PM Modi





5:05 pm IST The moment of washing their feet will stay with me forever: PM Modi The moment of washing the sanitation workers’ feet will stay with me forever: PM Modi





5:04 IST Big responsibility to keep clean a gathering area of 20-22 crore: PM Modi It was a big responsibility to keep clean an area where 20-22 crore people had gathered. You have proved there is nothing impossible in the world. The sanitation workers kept doing their work without any recognition and praise: Modi





5:01 pm IST PM Modi addressing Swachh Kumbh, Swachh Aabhaar Addressing the ‘Swachh Kumbh, Swachh Aabhaar’ programme in Prayagraj.





4:30 pm IST PM Modi meets sanitation workers After offering prayers at sangam, PM Modi met sanitation workers.





4:15 pm IST PM Modi takes holy dip in Sangam PM Modi took holy dip in sangam and performed Ganga pujan. PM performs dughdabhishek by pouring milk in sangam water and also performed Ganga Aarti.





3:55 pm IST PM Modi offers prayers PM Modi along with Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath in Prayagraj. लाइव: प्रधानमंत्री @narendramodi कुम्भ में संगम तट पर पूजा कर रहे हैं। https://t.co/eOjAfvQP5g — BJP (@BJP4India) February 24, 2019





3:35 pm IST PM Modi arrives in Prayagraj Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the Kumbh venue in Prayagraj. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath received him.





1:21 pm IST Rs 1,60,000 loan using kisan credit card: PM Modi “Earlier farmers could only take a loan of Rs one lakh without guarantee using the ‘kisan credit card’, they can now take a loan of Rs. 1,60,000 using the card. “17 lakh solar pumps will be provided for the help of farmers. They will not have to spend extra on irrigation,” he added.





1:12 pm IST Can’t commit the crime of distributing ‘rewri’: PM Modi “For us also loan waivers would have been easy and convenient, we also could have distributed ‘rewri’ for political and election benefits, but we can’t commit such a crime. Loan waiver benefits only a select few,” said PM Narendra Modi.





1:05 pm IST Congress remembers farmers only when polls are near: PM Modi “Congress along with other parties in Opposition alliance remember the farmers of the country on when polls are near,” said PM Modi.





1:03 pm IST Why make farmers bear brunt of politics: PM Modi “You might belong to Opposition, but why involve farmers in politics, why harm them, they belong to the country,” said PM Narendra Modi alleging that Opposition parties in other states are deceiving farmers by spreading rumours.





1:00 pm IST PM-KISAN only translates to Rs 17 per day for a farmer: Mayawati Minutes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the cash transfer scheme, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) boss Mayawati slammed it as an “insult” to farmers. She said the PM-KISAN only translated to Rs 17 per day for a farmer which is a pittance. Giving @ Rs 17 per day to few farmers just before Lok Sabha elections is pure hoodwinking. BJP reflects poor in their thinking towards farmers and solving their misery. BJP misused govt power & machinery in a brazen manner and still not hesitating. — Mayawati (@Mayawati) February 24, 2019





12:55 pm IST First installment transferred to 1 crore and 1 lakh farmers: PM Modi The first installment has been transferred in the bank accounts of one crore and one lakh farmers. Money will also be transferred to more farmers in a course of few weeks,” said PM Modi.





12:50 pm IST Earlier govts made schemes for farmers only on paper: PM Modi “Earlier governments made schemes for farmers only on paper, they never implemented any such scheme. However, our NDA government is commited to to provide the farmers with all the facilities so that by 2020 his income doubles,” said PM Narendra Modi at launch of PM-KISAN.





12:42 pm IST ‘Jai jawan, jai kisan,’ chants PM Modi PM Narendra Modi today chanted ‘Jai jawan, jai kisan,’ after launching KISAN income scheme from Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur.





12:30 pm IST PM Modi interacts with farmers via video conferencing PM Narendra Modi today rolled out Rs 75,000 crore KISAN income scheme for farmers from Gorakhpur. He then began interacting with farmers via video conferencing.





12:22 pm IST PM Modi launches Rs 75,000 crore farmer income scheme in Gorakhpur Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday launched Rs 75,000 crore farmer income scheme from Uttar pradesh’s Gorakhpur.





12:05 pm IST Proud of PM for receiving Seoul Peace Prize: CM Yogi Adityanath “We welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Uttar Pradesh. We are proud of the PM for having been honoured with Seoul Peace Prize,” said UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath.





11:58 am IST PM-KISAN scheme, a big gift to farmers: Union agriculture minister “Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana will be big gift to farmers by PM. While rival parties are working for the upliftment of their families, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that welfare and dignity of the farmers will be his top priority. In his five-year tenure he has launched several scheme’s,” said Union agriculture minister, Radha Mohan Singh.





11:50 am IST PM-KISAN ensures supplemental income Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) would not only provide assured supplemental income to the most vulnerable farmer families, but would also meet their emergent needs especially before the harvest season. PM-KISAN would pave the way for the farmers to earn and live a respectable living, the agriculture ministry has said.





11:45 am IST Over 12 crore farmers to be benefitted Over 12 crore farmers holding up to two hectares of land are expected to benefit from the scheme which is being rolled out at a cost of Rs 75,000 crore annually. About one crore farmers are set to be given the first instalment of Rs 2,000 on Sunday. The money will be directly transferred into the accounts of beneficiaries.



