Lucknow: The UP govt has directed all district authorities to make elaborate arrangements for the observance of ‘PM-Kisan Utsav Divas on June 20, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the 23rd instalment of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme from Tarakeswar in Hooghly district of West Bengal.In a directive sent to all DMs and divisional commissioners, principal secretary (agriculture) Ravindra said that large-scale participation of farmers should be ensured through virtual events. The programme will be broadcast live, enabling farmers across the state to join the event virtually.According to the directive, PM Modi will release the 23rd instalment of financial assistance under the PM-Kisan scheme — envisaging the annual grant of Rs 6000 to small and marginal farmers — for a period of April-July 2026. The day will be celebrated as PM-Kisan Utsav Divas across the country.The agriculture department has asked district authorities to organise programmes at the village, block, tehsil and district levels, as well as at Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), agricultural mandis, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Samriddhi Kendras.Public representatives, including Union and state ministers, MPs, MLAs, MLCs, village heads and progressive farmers, too, have been asked to participate in the events.Involving MPs, MLAs, ministers, village heads and progressive farmers is seen as an attempt to transform the payment release into a public mobilisation event. For the BJP, this helps maintain engagement with a crucial voter segment in Uttar Pradesh, where farmers constitute a significant electoral bloc.The directive also calls for extensive farmer mobilisation by Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), ICAR institutions, agricultural universities and village-level nodal officers. Special camps are proposed to be organised to create awareness about the PM-Kisan scheme, facilitate new registrations and address grievances of beneficiaries.The programme is also scheduled to be linked to the ongoing “Khet Bachao Abhiyan”, a nationwide campaign launched by the Govt of India to protect farmland, restore soil health and promote scientific, sustainable farming. The programme was launched on June 1. Accordingly, authorities will use the occasion to complete pending formalities and register eligible farmers who are yet to receive benefits.To monitor participation, districts have been directed to upload attendance details, photographs and videos through the Event Participants Count System (EPCS) app. The govt has also instructed officials to ensure adequate seating and other logistical arrangements at all venues.
