**Bhubaneswar: ** As the Government of India has launched the “Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)” for augmenting the income of small and marginal landholder farmer families across the country and cent percent funded by the Centre, it has on February 1 written to the Chief Secretaries of all the States and Union Territories (UTs) for its effective implementation.
The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Secretary, in his letter dated February 1, 2019, has mentioned, “Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)” is an important flagship scheme of the Government of India for the benefit of farmers which requires constant monitoring to ensure timely preparation of accurate beneficiary list and transfer of benefit into the account of beneficiaries. Hence, it is requested that Chef Secretaries may personally monitor the progress of implementation and do periodic reviews at their level for effective implementation.”
The letter states, “Under the scheme, financial benefit of Rs 6000 per year will be provided to all small and marginal farmer families having total cultivable holding of upto 2 hectare. This will be provided in 3 equal installments of Rs 2000 each in a period of every four months in a financial year. The benefit shall be admissible for the transfer w.e.f 01.12.2018.”
It also states, “The existing land-ownership system in the concerned States/UTs will be used for identification of beneficiaries. Those whose names appear in land records as on 01.02.2019 shall be eligible for benefit. If a Landholder Farmer Family (LFF) has land parcels spread across different village/revenue records then land will be pooled for determining the benefit. Accordingly, it is of utmost importance that the land records are clear and updated and the State/UT Governments are requested to complete updation of land records for the purpose expeditiously. All States/UTs shall endeavour to complete the identification of beneficiaries and facilitate quick distribution of the benefit to the farmers.”
**The GoI letter also mentions:**
• “The cutoff date for determination of ownership of land (as per land records) under the scheme as mentioned above is 01.02.2019 and changes thereafter in land records shall not be considered for eligibility of the benefit to the new land holder for next 5 years. However, the Scheme benefit will be allowed on transfer of ownership of cultivable land on account of succession.”
• “The funds pertaining to income support benefit shall be released from Gol periodically based on receipt of fund transfer order through the concerned State/UT Govt with the eligible beneficiaries’ details. States shall also notify District Level Grievance Redressal Committees for redressing all grievances related to implementation of the scheme.”
• “The beneficiary lists should be displayed/verified at Gram Panchayats to ensure greater transparency and accuracy of the list. States/UTs are also requested to ensure adequate publicity of the scheme as the intended beneficiaries are located in rural/remote areas.”
• “There is an urgent need to put in place a mechanism for providing structured support to the most vulnerable sections of farming community i.e. Small and Marginal land holder farmer families in the country for meeting their various inputs and other needs and provide assured supplemental income to such farmer families. Hence State/UT Govts are requested to immediately initiate the work of identification of beneficiaries and uploading the relevant data for release of funds by Govt. of India in the bank accounts of eligible farmer families.”
In his reactions, Odisha Finance Minister Sashi Bhusan Behera said, “As the Centre didn’t take the States into confidence nor consulted prior to implementing the scheme, three States have already expressed their discontentment. Hence, they couldn’t cooperate with the Centre. But, our State Government has positive opinion on it. Administrative discussion is underway to see how this (PM-KISAN) can also be implemented along with the KALIA scheme in our State.”
“How far we could cooperate the Centre in this regard will be known later on. Without prior consultation with States and implement such a scheme before the election is mere stupidity as election dates will be declared after a month,” he remarked.
He further stated, “However, we’re trying to see how it could be done even though other States have already expressed their unwillingness.”
Senior Congress MLA burst, “Is the Indian farmer a beggar? The farmers are fighting for their rights. What Rs 2,000? Are the farmers begging so that the Prime Minister will give them in three installments? It’s all for the election.”
“Why don’t they waive off farm loan? Why not the MSP that Odisha is demanding? Even though all our MLAs sought time from him to meet for that demand, the Prime Minister didn’t allow us time. By doing so, he is looking down on Odisha. Hence, our State Government shouldn’t implement the PM-KISAN scheme in my opinion. We’re not beggars. When the scheme is being announced by the Prime Minister, it ought to have been discussed with the State Government prior to the announcement. The State Government is not running under the mercy of the Central Government. Rather the Centre runs under the mercy of the State Government,” the Congress MLA lambasted.
On the contrary, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan reacted, “If the State Government is not anti-farmer, it should cooperate with the Centre in implementing the PM-KISAN in Odisha.”
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