EXPENDITURE PATTERN OF PM – KISAN SAMMAN NIDHI INSTALMENTS: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY IN WESTERN UTTAR PRADESH

This study examined whether the amount received under the instalments of PM-KISAN is used as per the target and expectations of the scheme, by estimating the expenditure pattern of the beneficiaries concerning the instalments received, using primary data. Further the adequacy of disbursed fund is studied by considering monthly average consumption expenditure of households, monthly average income and annual rate of inflation. The expenditure pattern is not found much in the accordance with the expectations of the scheme. The analysis revealed that, approximately 50% of the farmers utilized this money to cater their general domestic expenses and nearly 40% of the beneficiaries for the agriculture and farm related activities, inadequacy of the fund is found to be reason for this spending pattern. Regular disbursement of fund and relooking into the criteria to find targeted beneficiaries are a few recommendations of this study. KEYWORDS: PM-KISAN samman nidhi, farmers, expenditure pattern, agricultural activities, inflation, fund disbursement