An unexpectedly large number of (I-T) payers have been found availing the benefits ofPradhan Mantri KisanSamman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme inBiharwhile it was launched to supplement the financial needs of landholding farmers to ensure proper crop Health and appropriate yields. The startling revelations have been made in the audit report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India tabled on the floor of the State Legislature.
The PM-KISAN scheme with 100 percent central government funding operated through direct benefit transfer (DBT) mode was launched in February 2019. Under the scheme, the Centre provides income support of Rs6,000 per annum to all eligible farmer families in three equal instalments of Rs2,000 every four months. However, the responsibility for identification of beneficiaries and ensuring correctness of their details lies with the state governments.
It added that in at least 10 districts, inadmissible benefits amounting to Rs23.59 crore were paid to 22,301 minor beneficiaries as the applications for benefits under the scheme didnt capture the age of beneficiary on the cutoff date, i.e. February 01, 2019. The districts include Banka, Darbhanga, Jamui, Khagaria, Madhubani, East Champaran, Purnia,Saharsa,Saranand Siwan.
The report further stated that contrary to the scheme guideline, three beneficiaries who were in government jobs/pensioners received 18 instalments. It also said benefits of this scheme were extended to some farmers even after their deaths while many beneficiaries availed the scheme benefits even though they didnt have agricultural or cultivable land.
The CAG report has also wondered over rather slow pace of grievance redressal. According to the report, during the past 31 months since the beginning of the scheme in February 2019, only 9,408 of the grievances (23%) could be resolved.