The Assam government will now take strict action against officers involved in irregularities in distributing benefits of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana in the state. The decision comes after the Gauhati High Court directed Himanta Biswa Sarma government to take appropriate action against such officials.
The Assam government had previously informed the high court that almost 12 lakh ineligible farmers got the benefits under PM Kisan scheme.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice R M Chhaya along with Justice Soumitra Saikia after hearing a public interest lawsuit filed by NGO Amguri Naba Nirman Samity asked the Assam government to initiate "appropriate action" against the erring officials.
The bench in its November 25 order said that the state government will strictly adhere to the rules for providing financial benefit to ineligible beneficiaries.
The court also asked the administration to consider the one-man enquiry report, which was prepared by ex-Chief Secretary Jishnu Barua in 2020.
Mentioning the report by ex-Chief Secretary Barua, Joint Secretary of Agriculture Department Gunajeet Kashyap in an affidavit told the court in February that around 11.72 lakh ineligible people took benefits under PM Kisan yojana.
The high court in its order said that "It is also brought on record that 16 District Agriculture Officers & 98 Agricultural Development Officers have been subjected to departmental enquiry."
In addition, an FIR has been filed by the District Agriculture Officer of Bongaigaon district and few people have been arrested, who had unfairly added 734 persons to the website.
Assam Agriculture Minister, Atul Bora had told the Assembly last year that around 23,33,864 farmers across the state had received the money under Centre’s most ambitious scheme.
Under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana that was launched in 2019, the government provides financial assistance of Rs. 6,000 yearly to eligible farmers. The amount is paid in three equal instalments of Rs. 2000 each. It is transferred directly to the bank accounts of farmers.
So far, the government has released 12 installments under the scheme and the last was disbursed in October. Now farmers are eagerly waiting for the next installment that could be released in December.
