The State Government has been advised to prepare a list of all PM-KISAN beneficiaries who do not have a Kisan Credit Card (KCC).

In order to enable universal access to concessional institutional credit, the Government of India has initiated a drive in a mission mode for saturating all PM-KISAN beneficiaries with KCC. While the drive has started from February 10, it will be carried out for a period of 15 days, said sources.

Those farmers who do not have a KCC will be needed to be covered through the special drive, said a senior official in Union Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperation.

This will help all such farmers to get short term loan for crop and animal/fish rearing at a maximum interest of 4 per cent on timely repayment.

Detailed instructions in this regard have been issued to all the State Governments and Managing Directors of all the banks and the Chairman, NABARD, detailing the procedure to be followed for coverage of the PM-KISAN beneficiaries under KCC.

The farmers will be approached through line departments of the State Government, including Departments of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj.

Bank Sakhis under the NRLM scheme would also be used for motivating PM KISAN beneficiaries to visit the concerned bank branches for the purpose.

As the KCC along with benefit of interest subvention has now been extended to animal husbandry and fisheries farmers also, the State Governments have also been requested to focus on such farmers and facilitate sanction of additional credit limit/issue fresh KCC to them.

All banks have been advised to have separate counters for handling such applications and ensure issue of fresh KCC or enhancement of the existing KCC limit or activation of inoperative KCC account within the shortest possible time not exceeding 14 days from date of submission of application.

Progress of the drive will be monitored on a daily basis by the State/UT Governments. Activities under saturation drive in a district would be led by the district Collector with full support of the Lead District Manager and DDM, NABARD.

In addition to the KCC, with a view to provide social security to the PM KISAN beneficiaries, eligible farmers will also be enrolled for the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha BimaYojana (PMSBY) and Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti BeemaYojana (PMJJBY), after obtaining their consent.

These schemes provide accident insurance and life insurance at a premium of Rs12 and Rs 330 respectively for an insured value of Rs 2 lakh in each case.