National Horticulture Board tightens eligibility norms for financial assistance for its commercial schemes
The restriction would apply across all its schemes/components and would constitute the final entitlement of the family
The National Horticulture Board (NHB) has tightened eligibility norms for financial assistance under its commercial horticulture and cold storage schemes, while revising subsidy rates and application charges with immediate effect.
In a circular dated August 21, the Board said the amendments were aimed at rationalising financial assistance, ensuring equitable distribution of benefits, preventing duplication of subsidies and making implementation of its schemes more transparent.
Under the revised definition, “family” will comprise the applicant’s spouse, father, mother, sons and daughters. Only one member of a family will be eligible to avail financial assistance under NHB schemes, whether individually, through a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF), partnership/proprietorship firm or as a director of a company, subject to applicable provisions.
"Any financial assistance availed by one family member will be treated as assistance availed by the same family. Once assistance has been availed by a family member under an NHB scheme or component, no further assistance will be admissible to another member of the same family, irrespective of whether the maximum permissible subsidy ceiling has been fully utilised," the circular said.
The NHB said the restriction would apply across all its schemes/components and would constitute the final entitlement of the family.
The revised guidelines also exclude several categories from NHB financial assistance. These include holders of Constitutional posts; Ministers, Ministers of State, MPs, members of state legislatures, mayors of municipal corporations and chairpersons of district panchayats.
Serving employees of Central and state governments, government ministries/departments, PSUs, autonomous bodies and local bodies are also excluded, except MTS/Class-IV/Group-D employees.
Besides, the maximum subsidy admissible from NHB for any type of cold storage project has been capped at Rs 2 crore.
