Krishak Bandhu Scheme: Eligibility, How to Apply, Benefits

Introduction 

The Department of Agriculture, Government of West Bengal, introduced a farmer welfare scheme called the Krishak Bandhu Scheme in January 2019. The scheme aims to provide financial assistance to farmers for funding agricultural sustainability and risk mitigation. It further offers social security to the farm families in case of the untimely death of the farmers. 

What is the Krishak Bandhu Scheme? 

The Krishak Bandhu Scheme is a state-funded farmer support program. It provides direct income assistance and financial security to the farmers in West Bengal. Under the scheme, eligible farmers receive annual monetary support to help manage agricultural expenses. The scheme also includes a death/disability benefit to safeguard their families against unforeseen loss. 

This scheme combines assured financial aid with social protection to reduce the financial vulnerability of the farmers and support long-term agricultural stability in the state. 

Who Krishak Bandhu Scheme Benefits 

• Small and marginal farmers owning up to 2 acres of cultivable land 
• Farmer families of deceased farmers aged 18 - 60 years 
• Families of farmers who suffer permanent disability due to an accident 

Key Features & Benefits 

The following are the Krishak Bandhu Scheme benefits and features: 

• Direct Income Support: It makes sure farmers have financial support for cultivation expenses. 
  • Farmers with cultivable land of 1 acre or more: ₹10,000 per annum, payable in two equal instalments of ₹5,000 each, one for the Kharif and the other for the Rabi season. 
  • Farmers with cultivable land of less than 1 acre: Pro-rata assistance and a minimum of ₹4,000 per annum, paid in two equal instalments of ₹2,000. 
• Death/Disability Benefit: It ensures social security and financial relief to the bereaved family. 
  • In case of the death of an enrolled farmer aged between 18 - 60 years, the family receives a one-time grant of ₹2,00,000. 
• Disability Benefit: It supports families in managing sudden financial stress due to disability. 
  • Farmers suffering permanent disability due to an accident receive a ₹2,00,000 one-time grant. 
• Additional Benefits:  
  • Farmers registered under the Krishak Bandhu Scheme receive preference in the State Government’s paddy procurement scheme implemented by the Food and Supplies Department. 
  • The State Government is planning to extend the benefits of other farmer-centric government schemes to the Krishak Bandhu-registered farmers. 

Eligibility Criteria 

The following are the KBS eligibility criteria that applicants must meet: 

• Criteria for Income Support: For income support under the Krishak Bandhu Scheme, an applicant must: 
  • Be a resident of West Bengal 
  • Own cultivable land (up to 2 acres) 
  • Be actively involved in farming. 
• Criteria for Death or Disability Benefit: For the families to receive the death or disability benefit under the Krishak Bandhu Scheme: 
  • The disabled or deceased farmer must have been between 18 - 60 years of age. 
  • The applicant must be the deceased’s legal heir, in case of the death benefit. 
• Disbursement Conditions: 
  • Income support is provided based on the records of land ownership. 
  • Legal heir certificates must be submitted to avail the death benefit. 

Exclusions

• Non-residents 
• Those without valid land records 
• Non-farmers/those not actively engaged in agriculture 

Documents Required 

• Record of Rights (RoR) for Cultivable Land / RoR with Barga / Patta Record / Latest Forest Patta 
• Voter Identity Card (Mandatory) 
• Aadhaar Card (Optional) 
• Bank Passbook (first and last page) or a Cancelled Cheque 
• A recent Passport-size Photograph (Original) 
• Self-Declaration along with Land Documents and Warison Certificate (if required) 
• Mobile number linked to the Bank account and Aadhaar 
• Death Certificate (for availing the Death Benefit) 
• Legal Heir Certificate (for the Death Benefit) 
• Disability Certificate (for the Disability Benefit) 

Application Process 

Applicants can apply for the Krishak Bandhu Scheme both offline and online. Here is the step-by-step guide for both processes. 

Offline Application Process 

Here is the offline process to apply for benefits under the Krishak Bandhu Scheme: 

Registration 

Farmers can contact the Assistant Director of Agriculture of their respective blocks to register and for other information about the scheme. 

Application 

• Step 1: Go to the nearest Gram Panchayat or the Office of the Assistant Director of Agriculture for your block. Ask for a hard copy of the prescribed application form. 
• Step 2: Fill the application form with the correct details. Attach your passport-sized photograph, if needed. Get copies of all required documents, self-attested if required. 
• Step 3: Submit the duly filled form along with the documents to the same Gram Panchayat or the Office of the Assistant Director of Agriculture within the specific time period, if any is provided. 
• Step 4: Make sure you get a receipt or acknowledgement from where you submitted the application. Check if the date, time of submission, and the unique identification number (if applicable) are mentioned in the receipt. 

Online Application Process 

Applicants can register and then apply online without having to visit any offices. Here’s how to Krishak Bandhu apply online: 

Registration 

• Step 1: Go to the official Krishak Bandhu Scheme website. 
• Step 2: Click on the “Sign Up” button. 
• Step 3: Fill in all the required fields in the registration form. 
• Step 4: Cross-check the details provided and click “Register.” 

Application 

• Step 1: Log in using the username and password created at the time of registration on the official website of Krishak Bandhu Scheme. 
• Step 2: Access the online application form available on the website. Complete all the ‘required’ fields and upload all the required documents in the appropriate format and file size. 
• Step 3: Go through all the information and the uploaded documents carefully. Correct the errors, if any. Click “Submit”. Your application is complete. You will get a confirmation message with a reference number. Note it down. 

Important Details 

• Helpline: 8336957370 / 6291720406 
• Time: 10 am - 6 pm 
• Email ID: [email protected] 

Check Status

You can track the status on the official website by following these steps: 

• Go to the Registered Farmer’s Search. 
• Enter the required details (Aadhar Card/Voter Card/Bank Account Number). 
• Complete the Captcha, and the screen will show you the status. 

Benefit Disbursal

The money is disbursed to the beneficiary’s bank account via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). 

Conclusion

The Krishak Bandhu Scheme is a significant one among the farmer welfare programmes in West Bengal. It combines direct income support for the farmers with essential social security benefits for the farmer families. With this scheme in action, economic stress on the farmers is reduced, and long-term agricultural stability for the farmer families can be supported across the state. 

34, 000 farmer families have already received benefits under Krishak Bandhu 2024, and the scheme continues to benefit farmers and farmer families in 2025, as well. 

FAQs 

1. What is Krishak Bandhu? 

The Krishak Bandhu Scheme is a farmer welfare programme in West Bengal. It provides farmers with direct income support. It also offers death/disability benefits in the event of a farmer’s demise or permanent injury caused due to an accident. 

2. When do the applicants receive the Krishak Bandhu payment? 

The Krishak Bandhu payment (direct income support) is paid in two instalments in a year. The first instalment is paid in the Kharif season, which is between June and July. The second instalment is paid during the Rabi season, between November and December. 

3. How to check Krishak Bandhu payment status in West Bengal? 

You can check your Krishak Bandhu payment status by visiting the official website. 

4. How to apply for the Krishak Bandhu Scheme? 

You can apply for the Krishak Bandhu Scheme online by visiting the official website. Register and then fill out the application form. You can also apply offline by visiting the Gram Panchayat or the Office of your block’s Assistant Director of Agriculture. 

5. How much financial assistance per acre is provided under the income support component? 

In the direct income support component, farmers with 1 acre or more cultivable land get ₹10,000 while those with less than 1 acre of cultivable land get a minimum of ₹4,000 per annum. 

6. What evidence has to be provided to confirm ownership of land for income support? 

A Record of Rights or Pattadar Passbook is regarded as valid land ownership proof. 

7. What are the requirements needed to claim the death benefit in case of a farmer’s demise? 

The applicant has to submit the death certificate of the deceased, Aadhaar, land records, and a legal heir certificate for the death benefit. 

8. Under this agricultural scheme, who is the eligible beneficiary for the death benefit? 

Farmers aged between 18 - 60 years of age are eligible for the death and disability benefits. 

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