Centre may enhance payouts to farmers, staff ahead of polls

The BJP-led government at Centre is exploring the possibility of several welfare measures with special focus on farmers and government employees in the run-up to the 2024 polls, as the opposition has been making Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and farm loans crucial part of its poll discourse in assembly elections.

OPS has been featuring prominently in election pitches of almost all INDIA bloc parties, especially the Congress. OPS has been a constant feature of its poll manifesto for the assembly elections.

Several Congress-ruled states have already switched to OPS and recently, other opposition parties also extended support to the protest where thousands of central and state government employees from across the country came together in New Delhi on October 1 to demand the restoration of the OPS.


In April this year, the Modi government had formed a committee to review the pension scheme for government employees and suggest any changes, if needed, in the light of the existing framework and structure of the National Pension System (NPS).

Sources said the Centre is considering various options to NPS, more attractive preposition for employees including a suggestion to ensure a specific percentage of last drawn salary.

Similarly, another area of focus of the BJP and its ministers is farmers, as opposition parties have been announcing farm loan waivers to provide benefits to farmers.

Months before the 2019 polls, the Modi government had launched the PM Kisan Nidhi scheme, under which it gives ₹6,000 in three installments to small and marginal farmers in a year.

Several suggestions and options are being discussed by the BJP ahead of the polls to give more benefits to farmers, including enhancing the PM Kisan Nidhi amount.

With the Centre announcing a 4%Dearness Allowance hike and raising the minimum support price for Rabi crops, sources said the Modi government may come up with more measures to ease the burden on employees and farmers.