Mumbai : Under the Prime Minister’s Kisan Sanman Nidhi scheme launched by the central government to provide financial assistance to small and marginal farmers, 2 lakh 51 thousand 982 farmers in 28 districts of the state have been found ineligible in a statewide survey conducted by the media. An inquiry into the accounts of these farmers has been started and Rs 193.66 crore will be recovered from them. In particular, the ground report of the survey found that government officials, who were earning hefty salaries from those who did not have land in their names, also took advantage of the scheme.
Western Maharashtra has the highest number of 79,098 bogus beneficiaries in the state and Rs 51 crore will be recovered from them. Beed district has the highest number of 31,000 bogus beneficiaries. In Vidarbha 52 thousand, in Western Maharashtra 79 thousand and in North Maharashtra 39 thousand bogus beneficiaries have been found.
What are the criteria of the scheme?
A farmer family with a cultivable area of up to two hectares is given a benefit of Rs. 2,000 per installment in three installments of Rs 6,000. The scheme was implemented in the state from December 2018 to February 2019. This money is credited to the account every four months.
It has been written by the concerned farmer that if wrong information is given in the application, he will be eligible for criminal offense. Therefore, in addition to recovering the amount, a criminal case may also be filed against the concerned.
Action on Maha-e Seva Kendras
Action has been initiated against Maha-e Seva Kendras working for the scheme and neglecting to get information.
Who are the bogus beneficiaries?
Government officials have found to be bogus beneficiaries who take hefty salaries from the government and they do not have land in their name. There are also bogus beneficiaries who get a pension of over Rs 10,000. Some have more than two hectares of land, but those beneficiaries have also been found. There is a picture of confusion due to incorrect entries in many places.