STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: An NGO has moved the PMO (Prime Minister’s Office) with the Rs 370-crore Pradhan Mantri Kissan Samman Nidhi (PM Kisan) scam in which fake farmers in Assam went way with the benefits of the scheme, depriving the genuine farmers. The NGO urged the Prime Minister to conduct a neutral investigation with the ED (Enforcement Directorate) or the CBI.
The scam has been registered (PMOPG/D/2023/0094638) in the Public Grievance Portal of the PMO.
Amguri Nabanirman Samitee (ANS) moved the PMO with a missive and urged the Prime Minister to reinvestigate the matter and take legal action against officials and employees of the Agriculture Department of the Assam Government. The ANS alleged that the officials and employees had embezzled the Central Government’s funds.
Talking to The Sentinel, ANS president Diganta Saikia said, “In connection with our PIL (73/2022), the Commissioner and Secretary to the Agriculture Department, Assam, informed the Gauhati High Court on January 31, 2022, through an affidavit that the one-man high-level inquiry committee comprising the then Additional Chief Secretary Jishnu Baruah conducted the inquiry. The inquiry report shows that about 11.72 lakh ineligible beneficiaries received the benefits, and about Rs 1.5 crore has already been recovered from such ineligible beneficiaries. The inquiry report also brought on record that 16 district agriculture officers and 98 agricultural development officers have been subjected to departmental enquiry.”
Saikia said, “On November 25, 2022, the High Court directed the State Government to take appropriate action against the erring officers. However, for reasons best known to it, the State government stopped short of taking action against any of the erring officials. When asked about the status of action taken against the erring officials, the Department replied that ‘the information sought cannot be provided under Rule 8(h) as the matter is under inquiry and sub-judice under the state inquiry officer. Since the scam involves 100 percent Central funds, we have urged the Prime Minister to conduct a neutral investigation with the ED or the CBI.”
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