Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has provided significant relief to the state’s farmers by deciding to release over 156 crore rupees of pending subsidy funds under the Atal Bhujal Yojana. Farmers’ payments were held up after the central government discontinued the scheme.
The state government will now make these payments from the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF). This will benefit thousands of farmers in 17 districts. Agriculture Minister Dr. Kirori Lal stated that the funds will be transferred to the accounts of eligible farmers soon.
The Rajasthan government has taken a major and relieving decision in the interest of the state’s farmers. The state government has approved the payment of over three years’ pending liabilities under the Central Government’s ‘Atal Bhujal Yojana’, amounting to over ₹156 crore.
This sensitive decision by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma will directly benefit thousands of farmers in 17 districts of the state. Announcing this decision, Agriculture Minister Dr. Kirori Lal Meena stated that ensuring farmers receive their dues on time is the state government’s top priority.
The Atal Bhujal Yojana, run by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, was being implemented in 17 selected districts of Rajasthan from April 1, 2020. The scheme’s primary objective was to improve groundwater management and increase agricultural water use efficiency. Under the scheme, farmers were provided subsidies for the installation of farm ponds,
irrigation pipelines, ditch construction, agricultural equipment, crop rotation minikits, sprinklers, mini sprinklers, and drip irrigation systems. However, the Government of India suspended further implementation of the scheme after October 15, 2025. Due to the scheme’s closure,
subsidy payments to thousands of farmers in the state were held up. This amount, amounting to ₹90.91 crore from the Agriculture Department and ₹66.16 crore from the Horticulture Department, remained outstanding, causing farmers to face prolonged financial difficulties.
The state government’s continued efforts and sensitive decisions
The Rajasthan government engaged in repeated, earnest correspondence with the Central Government’s Jal Shakti Ministry to secure payment of these pending obligations. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, the Agriculture and Horticulture Minister,
the Chairman of the Rajasthan Farmers Commission, and the Chief Secretary engaged with the Central Government several times. However, due to initial delays in administrative approvals and the expiry of the central scheme after October 15, 2025, the Central Government expressed its inability to release the grant.
In light of this serious problem facing farmers, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma displayed generosity and sensitivity. He decided that even if central funds were not received,
the state government would ensure that farmers remain unpaid from its own resources. Consequently, the historic decision was taken to pay 100% of these liabilities from the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF).
Finance Department approval and budget allocation released
Following the Chief Minister’s directive, the State Finance Department has issued formal approval to settle the pending liabilities of the Atal Bhujal Yojana from the SDMF fund. Agriculture Commissioner Naresh Goyal has taken immediate action and issued orders for the necessary budget allocation to the concerned Zila Parishads and District Agriculture Officers.
District-level officials have been instructed to immediately complete physical verification of eligible farmers’ claims and ensure direct transfer of funds to their bank accounts through DBT.
Currently, approximately ₹90 crore (approximately ₹90 crore) of the Agriculture Department’s outstanding funds have been allocated, while the process for the Horticulture Department’s liabilities of ₹66.16 crore (approximately ₹66.16 crore) is also in the final stages. Agriculture Minister Dr. Kirori Lal clarified that the government stands with farmers under all circumstances.