Krishak Bandhu (Assured Income and Death Benefit) Scheme
Download: Krishak Bandhu Death Benefit Application Form English/ Bengali
Government of West Bengal
Department of Agriculture
NABANNA
325, Sarat Chatterjee Road, Howrah – 711 102
No. 112-AG/O/9M(Nab)-01/2019 Dated, Howrah the 17th January, 2019.
MEMORANDUM
Agriculture is the largest sector of the economy in West Bengal and about two-third population of the State is directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture for livelihood.
There are about 96% of the farmers of the State who are having small and marginal farm land holdings and they are often faced with inadequate access to farm credit.
The families of most of the farmers are totally dependent upon agriculture for their livelihood and in the event of death of the farmer who is the main earning member, the entire family is put to extreme financial distress as they have no alternative means of livelihood.
Agriculture, being the main livelihood of the majority of population of the State, it is necessary that it is profitable for the farmers and also they be provided with the social security so that the family of the farmer is not put to distress in the event of the death of the farmer.
Therefore, in order to give financial support to the farmers including Bhagchasi (share cropper) for agriculture purposes and also to provide social security to the family of the farmer and Bhagchasi in the event of his death due to any cause including natural death, the State Government has decided to introduce Krishak Bandhu Scheme with two components:-
(i) Krishak Bandhu (Assured Income) Scheme under which every farmer including recorded Bhagchasi (Share Croper) will be eligible to get financial support:
a) Rs. 5000/- (Rupees Five thousand) only for upto 1 (one) acre of land per year. The financial support will be paid in two instalments once for Kharif season and 2nd time for Rabi crops.
b) Pro-rata basis for land less than 1 (one) acre of land; subject to a minimum of Rs. 1000/- (Rupees One thousand) only;
(ii) the Krishak Bandhu (Death Benefit) Scheme under which, in the event of any type of death including natural death of a farmer/ Bhagchasi (share cropper) in the age group of 18-60 years, the nominee/family member of the deceased will get a one-time grant of Rs. 2,00,000/- (Rupees Two Lakh) only.
The Salient Features of the scheme are mentioned hereunder:
I. Eligible farmers: All farmers including recorded Bhagchasi (Share Croper), having available documents, will be eligible for financial support under the Krishak Bandhu (Assured Income) Scheme.
The eligible member of the family of the deceased farmer including recorded Bhagchasi (Share Croper) within the age group of 18 – 60 years, irrespective of their monthly income, will be eligible for coverage under the Krishak Bandhu (Death Benefit) Scheme.
II. Details of financial support: Under the Krishak Bandhu (Assured Income) Scheme, a farmer, including recorded Bhagchasi (Share Croper), will be eligible for an annual financial support as follows:
a) maximum of Rs. 5000/- (Rupees Five thousand) only for upto 1 (one) acre of land per year;
b) for less than 1 (one) acre of land on pro-rata basis commensurate with the area of land holding, subject to a minimum of Rs. 1000/- (Rupees One Thousand) only;
The financial support will be payable in two instalments – the 1st installment in June (for Kharif) and 2nd in November (for Rabi). In 2019, the payment for current Rabi/Boro crops will be made from 1st February, 2019.
III. The amount will be disbursed to the farmers through cheques or bank transfer by the West Bengal State Cooperative Bank (WBSCB) and District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs).
IV. Under the Krishak Bandhu (Death Benefit) Scheme, in the event of the death of farmer including recorded Bhagchasi (Share Croper) in the age group of 18-60 years, the eligible member of the family of the deceased will get a one-time grant of Rs. 2,00,000/- (Rupees Two Lakh) only. The death benefit scheme is effective from 1st January, 2019.
V. Nodal Department for implementation of the scheme: The Agriculture Department will be the Nodal Department for the scheme.
VI. A State Level Steering Committee for Krishak Bandhu Scheme under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, ACS (Agriculture) as the Member-Convenor, the ACS/ Principal Secretary/ Secretary of the concerned Departments and the Advisor (Agriculture) as Members will be formed to supervise implementation of the scheme.
This issues with the approval of the Finance Department vide U.O. No. Group A-I/ 2018-19/0065 dated 16/01/2019 read with U.O. No. 2533 dt. 03/01/2019 of Group-N and U.O. No. 2504 dated 02/01/2019 of Group-N.
By order of the Governor
Sd/- Naveen Prakash
Additional Chief Secretary