Amidst good news for millions of farmers, the Central Government has taken a major and strict step. The government has begun identifying fraudulent beneficiaries who are misusing the PM Kisan Yojana. According to data, more than 3.1 million farmers across the country have been included in the list of suspicious beneficiaries. The purpose of removing these fraudulent farmers is to ensure that only needy and eligible farmers receive the benefits of the scheme.
Both husband and wife were receiving benefits
An investigation conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture has revealed a shocking revelation. In many cases, both husband and wife were receiving benefits worth ₹6,000 under the PM Kisan Yojana. According to the rules, only one member of a family (comprising husband, wife, and minor children) can avail the benefits of this scheme. To correct these irregularities, the Central Government has launched a Special Verification Drive in the states and union territories.
According to the ministry’s report, 19.02 lakh cases have been investigated so far out of 31.01 lakh suspicious cases. Of these investigated cases, approximately 17.87 lakh cases (about 94%) were found where both husband and wife were receiving the money. The government has strictly instructed states to complete the verification process of all beneficiaries by October 15th, so that ineligible beneficiaries can be removed from the list and genuine farmers can receive the money on time.
Major irregularities in the names of minors and former landowners
The investigation campaign has revealed several other major irregularities. These alarming revelations have raised questions about the transparency of the scheme. Approximately 1.76 lakh minor children are receiving PM Kisan installments, which is completely against the scheme’s rules. Furthermore, more than 33 lakh cases have been identified where the previous landowner’s information is incorrect or not recorded at all. In many cases, payments were being made to both the old and new owners of the same land. Authorities have detected 8.11 lakh such cases so far.
Will payments be made before Diwali
The central government has already transferred the 21st installment of ₹2,000 to the accounts of farmers in flood-affected states like Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Uttarakhand. However, farmers in other states may have to wait a little longer. There is confidence that the money will be released before Diwali, but if the verification process isn’t completed by October 15, payments are likely to be delayed until November. The government’s priority is to eliminate fraud so that genuine farmers can receive the significant benefits of the installment on time.