With a view to directly support the income of small farming families with agriculture land upto 5 acres Government of India had announced PM Kissan Samman Nidhi scheme . An amount of Rs 6000 per year shall be credited to the bank account of small farmers directly in three equal installments.Government of Punjab has nominated Agriculture Department as Nodal Department for implementing the scheme.CM Punjab has directed the department to ensure transparent and hassle free implementation of the scheme.Farmers have been asked by the Government to fill in self declaration forms available in the village level Agricultural Cooperative Societies. The forms so filled are to be uploaded on the IT portal created for the purpose by the socities. Funds at the rate of Rs 2000, as first installment of the scheme shall come in the bank accounts of the farmers by the end of this month.Giving details of the scheme, K.S. Pannu, Secretary agriculture, State Nodal Officer of the scheme , stated that small farming families under the scheme are defined as husband, wife and minor children up to the age of 18 years, jointly owning not more than 5 acres of farm land.Those small farming families where any member is serving or retired employee of Government, its Board, Corporations and Autonomous bodies are not eligible to apply under the scheme. However this condition is not applicable on serving or retired class 4 employees or other retired employees whose monthly pension is less than Rs. 10000. Similarly income tax payees or those currently or previously holding constitutional posts or MLA, MP, Mayor and Zila Parishad Chairman are also not eligible to apply under the scheme. Also practising professionals such as Doctors, engineers, lawyers architects and chartered accountants who are members of professional bodies are also not eligible to apply. More than 2 lakh farmers have already filled forms which are being uploaded on the portal by Department of Cooperation. Pannu requested eligible farmers to approach the village Cooperative Societies to fill the forms at the earliest so that their land verification process could be completed and forms are uploaded on the portal.It is estimated that about 9-10 lakh farmers in Punjab shall be eligible under the scheme.