Ideal farmers bungle funds to the tune of Rs10 crore
Over Rs61.25 crore was released towards crop damage that occurred due to heavy rains in July and August
ADILABAD: Progressive farmers had swindled input subsidy funds to the tune of Rs10 crore, of the total Rs61.25 crore, released towards damaged crops in Adilabad district. Over Rs 61.25 crore was released towards crop damage that occurred due to heavy rains in July and August, 2013, in the district. Progressive farmers resorted to embezzlement of funds with a confidence that there would be no action against them as the state government was planning to abolish the progressive farmers system.
The progressive farmers diverted the subsidy amount into the accounts of their family members and relatives and claimed input subsidy in the name of lease lands. Subsidy money which was sanctioned to a deceased farmer was also diverted into the account of a family member of a progressive farmer. It is learnt that agriculture officials had begun inquiry and would take steps to recover the amount.
According to agriculture officials, a total of 1.40 lakh farmers were identified eligible for the input subsidy and the state government released '69 crore for crop damage due to hailstorm and heavy rains that struck the district 6 times since April, 2011 to July, August 2013.Joint director of agriculture S. Rose Leela informed that they had so far transferred '50 crore into accounts of nearly 1.10 lakh farmers’ bank accounts, of the total 1.4 lakh farmers eligible for the input subsidy.
She said they were scrutinising nearly 15,000 farmers’ bank accounts found to be wrong and mismatching with the details provided. An input subsidy to the amount of Rs11 crore should be transferred to these farmers accounts.It is learnt that farmers had given their crop loan bank account numbers, instead of saving account numbers. Once the subsidy amount is deposited into the crop loan accounts, it gets locked and the bankers adjust the amount to the crop loans taken by the farmer earlier.
The software being used by the bankers just transfers the amount taking the bank account and Aadhar number into consideration, but not the name of the farmer. Many progressive farmers, in collusion with the village revenue officers and local agriculture staff, took advantage of this technical lapse and gave the numbers of their bank accounts and Aadhaar numbers, apart from some belonging to their relatives and siphoned off the amount.
According to official figures, subsidy amount relating to 32 farmers and amounting to Rs4.40 lakh was siphoned off through fraudulent means by progressive farmers of the total Rs24 lakh subsidy released for 379 farmers in Kokasmannur panchayat in Ichchoda mandal.
One progressive farmer, who siphoned off the amount, reportedly, admitted that he had transferred the subsidy amount of an eligible farmer into the his and his relative’s accounts even though they were not eligible for the subsidy.The villagers of Sirikonda in Ichchoda mandal complained that input subsidy was issued to farmers who did not even have land in the village. Wankidi ZPTC Arigela Nageshwar alleged that a large amount of funds were swindled by progressive farmers, in collusion with sarpanches and VROs in all the mandals in Adilabad.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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