Krishak Bandhu Scheme, Eligibility, Documents, Apply Online

Krishak Bandhu Scheme is a farmer welfare scheme launched by the Department of Agriculture, Government of West Bengal. It aims to provide financial assistance and death benefit coverage to farmers in the state. Under this scheme, eligible farmers receive annual income support based on their landholding, while financial assistance is also available in cases of death or permanent disability, subject to the applicable conditions.

The scheme helps farmers manage agricultural expenses, support their families and reduce financial difficulties.

What Is the Krishak Bandhu Scheme?

The Krishak Bandhu Scheme is a government initiative designed to support farmers in West Bengal through direct financial assistance. It provides annual income support to eligible farmers and registered sharecroppers, helping them meet farming-related expenses.

The scheme also includes a financial protection component for eligible farmers and their families. The assistance is transferred directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.

Krishak Bandhu Scheme Key Highlights

The key highlights related to the Krishak Bandhu Scheme have been tabulated below.

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What Are the Benefits of the Krishak Bandhu Scheme?

The Krishak Bandhu Scheme provides annual financial assistance and a death benefit to eligible beneficiaries. Its major benefits are explained below.

1. Annual Income Support

Under the scheme, eligible farmers receive financial assistance based on their landholding.

• Farmers with 1 acre or more: Receive ₹10,000 per year in two instalments.
• Farmers with less than 1 acre: Receive assistance on a proportionate basis, subject to a minimum annual benefit of ₹4,000.

This financial support can help farmers purchase seeds, fertilisers and other agricultural inputs and meet cultivation expenses.

2. Death Benefit

The scheme provides a lump-sum financial benefit of ₹2,00,000 in eligible cases involving the death of a registered farmer.

The benefit is intended to provide financial support to the farmer’s family after the loss of an earning member. Eligibility and claim approval depend on the scheme’s applicable rules and documentation requirements.

3. Permanent Disability Benefit

Financial assistance of ₹2 lakh is also specified for eligible cases of permanent disability caused by an accident, subject to the scheme’s conditions. The relevant age requirement for this benefit is 18 to 60 years.

Applicants should check the latest official guidelines to confirm the conditions and documents required for a disability claim.

4. Direct Benefit Transfer

The scheme uses the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system to transfer eligible financial assistance directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts. Aadhaar-linked banking details may be required for payment verification.

This system helps beneficiaries receive financial assistance without relying on intermediaries for the transfer.

What Is the Eligibility Criteria for the Krishak Bandhu Scheme?

To receive benefits under the Krishak Bandhu Scheme, applicants must meet the eligibility conditions set by the Government of West Bengal.

The main eligibility requirements are:

• State Residency: The applicant must be a resident of West Bengal.
• Farmer Status: The applicant must be an eligible farmer, landowner or recorded sharecropper (Bargadar).
• Cultivable Land: Applicants must provide valid records of cultivable land or sharecropping, as applicable.
• Death Benefit: The benefit is available to the legal heirs of eligible farmers who die between the ages of 18 and 60 years.

What Documents Are Required for the Krishak Bandhu Scheme?

Applicants may need to submit the following documents for registration under the scheme:

• Voter ID Card as identity proof.
• Aadhaar Card, where required.
• Land ownership records, such as the Record of Rights (RoR), agricultural patta or forest patta.
• Bank passbook’s first page or a cancelled cheque to verify bank account details.
• Recent passport-size photograph.
• Registered sharecropping records, where applicable.
• Mobile number for communication and verification.

Additional documents may be required depending on the type of application. For a death benefit claim, the legal heirs may need to submit the death certificate, identity documents and proof of their legal-heir status.

How to Apply for the Krishak Bandhu Scheme?

Farmers can contact the Agriculture Department in their area to understand the registration process and submit the required documents.

Follow these steps:

1. Visit the official Krishak Bandhu website.
2. Contact the Assistant Director of Agriculture at your block-level office for registration guidance.
3. Obtain the prescribed application form or follow the registration procedure currently in force.
4. Fill in the required personal, landholding and bank account details.
5. Attach the necessary documents and submit the application to the designated authority.
6. Keep the acknowledgement or application reference details for future use.