Rs 1,364 crore paid to over 20 lakh undeserving beneficiaries under PM-KISAN: RTI data

The Authorities has paid Rs one,364 crore to 20.48 lakh undeserving beneficiaries beneath its formidable PM-KISAN plan, a reply to a Suitable to Data (RTI) query by the Union Agriculture Ministry reveals.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sammann Nidhi (PM-KISAN) was introduced by the Centre in 2019 and beneath the plan, an profits guidance of Rs six,000 for each year in 3 equivalent installments is paid to tiny and marginal farmer households having blended land keeping or ownership of up to two hectares.

The Union Agriculture Ministry, in response to the RTI application, recognized two groups of undeserving beneficiaries who acquired PM-KISAN payouts as “ineligible farmers” and “profits tax payee farmers”.

RTI applicant Venkatesh Nayak of Commonwealth Human Legal rights Initiative (CHRI) who acquired the facts from the authorities stated, “A lot more than half (fifty five.58 for each cent) of these undeserving people belong to the ‘income tax payee category’.” “The remaining forty four.41 for each cent belong to the ‘ineligible farmers’ category’,” he additional.

Nayak stated, in accordance to media experiences, proceedings have been initiated to recover these money transferred to undeserving people.

He stated facts attained beneath RTI Act, 2005, indicated that considering the fact that the commencement of the PM-KISAN Yojana in 2019, Rs one,364.13 crore ($186.59 million) has been paid to ‘ineligible persons’ and ‘income tax payee farmers’ till July 31, 2020.

“Government’s own facts indicates income went into the wrong fingers,” he additional.

A key chunk of these ineligible beneficiaries belongs to five states — Punjab, Assam, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, as for each the facts.

“Punjab tops the record accounting for 23.sixteen for each cent (4.74 lakh) of the whole range of undeserving people throughout the country who acquired payouts, adopted by Assam with sixteen.87 for each cent (3.45 lakh beneficiaries) and Maharashtra with 13.99 for each cent (two.86 lakh beneficiaries). These 3 states account for far more than half (54.03 for each cent) of the range of undeserving people who acquired payouts,” Nayak stated Gujarat is at the fourth posture with 8.05 for each cent (one.sixty four lakh beneficiaries), adopted by Uttar Pradesh at fifth posture with 8.01 for each cent (one.sixty four lakh beneficiaries), he stated.

Sikkim with just a person undeserving beneficiary reported the cheapest determine, Nayak stated.

“The whole total of Rs one,364.13 crore was paid to recipients throughout the states in sixty eight.20 lakh installments (the place each individual installment of Rs two,000 paid out for each recipient is counted individually). Out of this, forty nine.twenty five lakh installments have been paid to ‘IT payee farmers’ although 18.ninety five lakh installments have been paid to ‘ineligible farmers’ throughout the country,” he stated quoting the RTI facts.

Under the plan, an total of Rs six,000 for each year is transferred in 3 installments of Rs two,000 every four months immediately into the bank accounts of the farmers, issue to certain exclusion requirements relating to greater profits status, a PIB statement had stated.

The plan was formally introduced on February 24, 2019, by Key Minister Narendra Modi at a grand perform in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh.

Quite a few groups of farmers are excluded from the plan like institutional landholders farmer households in which a person or far more customers is among the beneficiaries — former and existing holders of constitutional posts former and existing ministers, MPs, MLAs, MLCs, mayors and chairmen of district panchayat serving and retired authorities staff pensioners obtaining over Rs ten,000 regular pension profits tax payees and professionals these types of as medical doctors, engineers, chartered accountants and architects and so on.