The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has criticised the Arunachal Pradesh government for “several deficiencies” while implementing the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) yojana in the northeastern state.
The CAG in its report, which was tabled in the Assembly recently, highlighted “several discrepancies” while implementing the central scheme in the state.
The scheme was launched in February 2019 and aimed at providing income support and risk mitigation for farmers. Under the scheme, eligible farmers get income support for meeting expenses related to agriculture and allied activities, as well as for domestic needs.
The scheme with cent per cent central funding operated under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode. Under the scheme, income support of Rs 6000 per annum is provided to all eligible farmers across the country in three equal instalments.
In its report, the CAG alleged that there was no duly approved alternate mechanism for the identification of beneficiaries in line with the guidelines developed in the state, hampering proper implementations of the scheme.
The CAG in its audit report covering the period from 2019-20 to 2020-21 said that in the absence of an approved mechanism for the eligibility of farmers, the sole criteria for eligibility was self-declaration forms, due to which many “ineligible beneficiaries were extended the benefits” of the scheme.
“The state nodal department could not provide justification or basis for determining potential beneficiaries in the state. Due to this, more than the total available beneficiaries registered in two of the four sample districts. Further, coverage of the scheme and beneficiaries yet to be registered could not be determined,” the report alleged.
“A total of 373 beneficiaries were registered without verification of appropriate authorities and benefits of Rs 28.22 lakh has already been extended to the unverified beneficiaries.
“Total benefits amounting to Rs 46.98 lakh has been extended to 572 ineligible beneficiaries,” the report said.
