Punjab, Maharashtra, Karnataka major beneficiaries of funds under PM-Kisan scheme, funds pocketed by ineligible farmers

Team Udayavani, Jan 11, 2021, 11:05 AM IST

Source: Unsplash

New Delhi/Bengaluru: Punjab, Maharashtra and Karnataka are among the top-five states to have pocketed a highest number of funds from government to ineligible farmers under the PM-Kisan scheme.

The government shelled out Rs. 1,364 crore to 20.48 lakh farmers who weren’t eligible for the scheme till July 31, 2020 in 68.20 lakh installments with Punjab, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka. This accounted for 67.92% or Rs 926.56 crore of the total funds that were disbursed among undeserving ones.

Farmers in Punjab garnered the highest amount, followed by Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka.

In response to RTI filed by Venkatesh Nayak, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers’ welfare said that Karnataka stands fifth, with 86,419 ineligible farmers receiving Rs. 77.44 crore in 3.87 lakh instalments.

Reports cite that overall 1.95% of the 10.47 crore beneficiaries were not eligible for the scheme.

Speaking of undeserving farmers, Punjab accounts for 23.16% followed by Assam “(16.87%) and Maharashtra (13.99%), Gujarat with 8.05% and Uttar Pradesh with 8.01%.

While the number of undeserving recipients is less than one lakh in other states including Karnataka.

The revised guidelines of PM-Kisan scheme was launched in February 2019 to provide Rs. 6000 a year in three installments to farmers. It excludes farmers who are institutional landholders, ones who paid income tax, professionals, former and present ministers, MPs, MLAs, ones who held or hold constitutional posts, present and retired officials and ones who receive a pension of more than Rs 10,000.