Lack of mechanism deprives beneficiaries for PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, NFS, PMAY-G scheme

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Whenever there was a 'large-scale selection' of beneficiaries for any scheme, 'large-scale anomalies' were an accompaniment. The target people got deprived of the benefits in the process.

Almost without exception, this statement is true in the selection of beneficiaries for PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, NFS (National Food Security), PMAY-G (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin) or any other scheme.

It has come to light recently that most of the beneficiaries selected for the PMAY-G during the Congress regime are ineligible ones. They are either government employees or economically affluent people. The authorities concerned constructed around 50 percent of the houses under the scheme and the remaining houses are at various stages of construction.

The P&RD (Panchayat & Rural Development) Department has sought details of the selection process from the panchayat secretaries, members and the public. The department has appealed to them to lodge complaints with the police, deputy commissioners and the P&RD Department to enable it to act against the illegalities.

During the last government, around eight lakh of the 39 lakh beneficiaries were ineligible under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi. Under this scheme, each of the beneficiaries gets Rs 6,000 in three equal instalments. When the massive irregularities came to light, the government formed an inquiry committee with the then Additional Chief Secretary Jishnu Barua. The committee did submit its report to the government within the stipulated time. While many ineligible farmers who had availed of the benefits had to cough up the cash, several have not yet refunded the money.

The issuance of ration cards under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 during the Congress regime in the State was also not free from the malaise of large-scale irregularities. A large number of affluent families got ration cards under the NFSA, 2013. At a recent review meeting, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had to ask the Food and Civil Supplies department to cancel the ration cards issued to the ineligible families.

The Panchayati Raj Act states that the selection of beneficiaries should be through gram sabhas. But, who cares?

An unholy nexus entwined with employees of the departments concerned, panchayat members and middlemen of the party or parties in power always does such irregularities while selecting beneficiaries. The moot point is: unless there is a mechanism to ensure transparency in the selection process such irregularities will continue.

Also Read: Withdraw ration cards from ineligible beneficiaries lying above the poverty line: CM Sarma