GUWAHATI, May 13 - Criticizing the State government for its 'utter failure' to check large-scale anomalies in the agriculture sector, the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chhatra Parishad (AJYCP) has demanded a high-level probe into the allegations of fake farmers getting the benefits of Central and State government schemes meant for genuine farmers.
Alleging that the Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal's slogan of zero tolerance against corruption has vanished into thin air, the Parishad demanded identification of the fake farmers on the list of beneficiaries.
�While the condition of poor and marginalized farmers in the State is pitiable, specially in the lockdown period, unscrupulous elements are getting the advantage of schemes through wrong means,� AJYCP president Rana Pratap Barua and general secretary Palash Changmai said.
The Parishad alleged that large-scale irregularities have been reported during the distribution of tractors under the Chief Minister Samagra Gramya Unnayan Yojana.
�Under the scheme, tractors with low-quality manufacturing were distributed among the beneficiaries instead of the one approved under the scheme. Also, recently, a lot of fake farmers have registered themselves in the list of beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sanman Nidhi, to get the benefits of the scheme,� the Parishad alleged.
Asking the government to ensure that the benefits of various schemes under the agriculture sector reach the farmers of the State directly, it stated that the government must think beyond political benefits in this regard. The youth body further alleged that at many places, the workers of the ruling BJP have prepared the list of beneficiaries and have forced the officers of the department concerned to approve the same.
�Such large-scale corruption and injustice to the genuine farmers cannot be accepted at any cost. The government must announce a high-level probe into the matter, or else we would be compelled to start a democratic movement against this,� the Parishad members stated.
