11 months on, 78K farmers waiting for 1st payment

Parveen Arora
Tribune News Service
Karnal, January 30

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Break-up of farmers awaiting benefit

Eleven months after the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan), a Central scheme launched in February last year before the Lok Sabha elections, 78,040 farmers in the state are still waiting for the first instalment.

The farmers have been running from pillar to post to get the first instalment. They have complained that even after submitting details like Aadhaar and account numbers, they have not been given the benefits under this Central scheme.

Of the 15,22,677 beneficiaries in the state, 14,44,637 have received the first instalment as on January 29, according to the official portal of the PM-Kisan.

The department has issued the second instalment to 14,13,152 farmers, third instalment to 13,35,144 and fourth instalment to 8,68,308.

A total of 12,273 beneficiaries are waiting for first instalment in Rohtak district, 12,114 in Bhiwani, 6,783 in Jind, 5,866 in Kurukshetra, 5,421 in Rewari, 5,372 in Sonepat, 4,725 in Mewat, 4,573 in Jhajjar, 3,741 in Karnal, 3,495 in Fatehabad, 2,966 in Charkhi Dadri, 2,873 in Mahendragarh, 2,555 in Yamunanagar, 1,897 in Panipat, 1,639 in Sirsa, 1,389 in Palwal, 450 in Gurugram, 384 in Kaithal, 343 in Faridabad, 341 in Ambala and 132 in Panchkula district.

The Centre had launched this scheme, under which Rs 6,000 was extended as financial assistance, with the aim of adding to the income of small and marginal farmers. The scheme was to be effected from December 1, 2018, and the last date to determine eligible beneficiaries was February 1, 2019.

“I got myself registered last year, but did not receive my first instalment,” said Kehar Singh, a farmer. Sewa Singh Arya, former BKU state president, demanded that the government should release the first instalment to meet the purpose of this scheme.

“Farmers are being harassed for not updating their bank accounts and Aadhaar details. Officials should ensure that no farmer is harassed and the data is updated on priority,” he said.

Jagraj Dandi, Joint Director in the Agriculture Department, claimed that the process to distribute the instalment was underway. He said verification of beneficiaries was being done and data updated. He said Aadhaar number was not mandatory earlier, but requirements were later updated.