NALBARI, May 10 - Following Nalbari Deputy Commissioner Bharat Bhusan Dev Choudhury�s order for a magisterial inquiry into the gross anomalies in the selection of beneficiaries for the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (or PM Kisan) in Nalbari district, many alleged �fake farmers� have started refunding the amount in the district administration�s account fearing legal action.
The �farmers� who received the fund under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi but were not eligible to get the benefits, have refunded more than Rs 10 lakh so far.
Talking to this correspondent, the Deputy Commissioner said the persons who refunded the amount are either from government service or from economically sound families. Some of them included 3-4 members from their own families to get the benefit of the Central government scheme.
Deputy Commissioner Dev Choudhury said that following complaints from a cross section of people, he ordered a magisterial inquiry into the anomalies. The probe committee headed by district development commissioner Krishna Baruah has been asked to submit its report within 15 days.
The Deputy Commissioner stated that as people pointed fingers towards panchayat representatives, he has asked the probe committee to strictly verify the names of their relatives in the list of beneficiaries.
It may be mentioned here that strong resentment has been prevailing among people of Nalbari district over the alleged nepotism and corrupt practices in the selection of beneficiaries for PM Kisan Samman Nidhi.
The Union government, under this scheme, deposited Rs 2,000 as the first installment of the yearly grant of Rs 6,000 in the bank accounts of farmers to compensate for the loss during the lockdown.
However, gross anomalies came to light over the selection of needy farmers. It has been alleged that local BJP leaders, panchayat representatives and corrupt officials of the Agriculture department were involved in the selection of beneficiaries from non-farming sectors.
The names of students, service holders, wives of service holders, and financially sound businessmen and 3-4 members from the same families were part of the list of beneficiaries. Even the names of panchayat representatives were found in the list.
