PM-KISAN Yojana in Odisha: Dharmendra seeks CM’s intervention

Bhubaneswar: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has sought the personal intervention of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to ensure expeditious compliance to procedural formalities as per PM-KISAN guidelines for benefit of farmers of Odisha.

In a letter to the Chief Minister, Pradhan said the percentage of farmers receiving the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana(PM-KISAN) benefit is significantly less than the number of farmers registered under the scheme in Odisha.

Though 40.5 lakh farmers have registered under PM-KISAN in the state, only 24.7 lakh received assistance in 7th installment due to non-compliance of procedural requirements and administrative oversight by the state government officials, he added.

The Minister said non-disbursement of due benefits to many of the needy farmers of Odisha, especially in the backdrop of hardships caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, is disheartening and depriving them of the government support when they need it the most.

The data shows that out of the total 40.5 lakh registered beneficiaries of PM-KISAN Yojana in the State, only 9.73 Lakhs (24%) received the 1st instalment, only 29.92 Lakhs (74%) received the 2nd instalment, only 28.77 Lakhs (71%) received the 3rd instalment, only 25.61 Lakhs (63%) received the 4th instalment, only 21.55 Lakhs (53%) received the 5th instalment, only 23.38 Lakhs (58%) received the 6th instalment and only 24.70 Lakhs (61%) received the 7thinstalment, said Pradhan.

Under the PM-KISAN scheme, the Central Government provides an income support of Rs 6,000 per year in three equal installments.

As per the scheme guidelines, State Governments are to identify the beneficiaries and upload the beneficiary details on the web portal of the scheme. Correctness of beneficiary details is to be ensured by the State Governments. The funds are then directly transferred to the bank accounts of these beneficiaries.