PM Releases Rs 18,880 Crore in Farmer Aid During West Bengal Day Event
Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 23rd instalment of the PM-Kisan scheme, worth Rs 18,880 crore, benefiting over 9.44 crore farmers across India. The announcement was made during the 'Paschimbanga Divas' celebrations in Tarakeswar, Hooghly district, on Saturday.
According to a statement from the Press Information Bureau (PIB), more than Rs 900 crore of this amount will be credited to over 45 lakh beneficiaries in West Bengal alone. This brings the cumulative disbursement under the scheme in the state to over Rs 15,000 crore. Nationwide, total disbursements since the scheme's launch in 2019 have exceeded Rs 4.46 lakh crore.
During the event, Modi launched, dedicated, and laid foundation stones for several development projects spanning railways, agriculture, rural development, fisheries, and animal husbandry. Key initiatives include the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), AgriStack, the National Mission on Natural Farming, and the Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY).
The PMFBY, described as the world's largest crop insurance scheme, was extended to West Bengal. The statement said the initiative aims to provide insurance coverage to nearly 50 lakh farmers across about 14 lakh hectares of agricultural land in the state during 2026-27, protecting crops with an estimated insured value of around Rs 28,140 crore.
Under the Digital Agriculture Mission, Modi launched 'AgriStack' in West Bengal, a unified digital platform for verified agriculture-related services such as fertiliser distribution, Kisan credit cards, direct benefit transfers, and procurement under the minimum support price system. The statement noted that this will strengthen digital governance in agriculture and facilitate efficient delivery of farmer-centric services.
Modi also launched the National Mission on Natural Farming in the state to promote sustainable, chemical-free agriculture rooted in traditional Indian practices. According to the PIB, under the approved annual action plan for 2026-27, West Bengal will establish 346 natural farming clusters covering 17,300 hectares, while creating bio-input resource centres and mobilising 'krishi sakhis' to encourage eco-friendly farming.
The PMDDKY was initiated in four West Bengal districts—Purulia, Darjeeling, Alipurduar, and Jhargram—focusing on improving agricultural productivity, crop diversification, and sustainable farming.
Recognising the state's extensive pisciculture sector, Modi inaugurated the modernised and capacity-expanded fishing harbour at Fraserganj in South 24 Parganas and a newly constructed modern fish market at Sainthia in Birbhum district.
In the railway sector, Modi dedicated to the nation and laid foundation stones for projects worth approximately Rs 590 crore. The Sankrail-Santragachi link line project in Howrah district was dedicated to the nation, expected to decongest one of the busiest rail corridors in eastern India and improve operational efficiency for passenger and freight trains.
The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for a 300-bed divisional railway hospital at Howrah. The statement said the hospital will be equipped with modern healthcare infrastructure, advanced diagnostic facilities, specialist medical services, and emergency care, strengthening healthcare services for railway beneficiaries and the local population.
Additionally, foundation stones were laid for a road overbridge and other infrastructure projects, though details were not immediately available.
