GUWAHATI, May 17 - Alleging large-scale corruption in implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme in Assam, State Congress president Ripun Bora has called upon the Central government to order a CBI enquiry into the matter.
Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Ripun Bora has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue.
�Among (the) series of economic relief declared by the Government of India as compensation during the lockdown period, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi is also one of such major schemes of the government. Under this scheme, 31 lakh kisans in Assam is (sic) targeted to benefit with the cash grant of Rs 2,000 per instalment for three instalments by way of bank transfer. But while electing beneficiaries, serious anomalies and manipulations have (been) done,� Bora stated.
He alleged that in most of the cases, the genuine farmers have not been selected. Bora stated that there were many instances of government employees, businessmen and economically well-off people got their names included in the list of beneficiaries.
�There is large-scale in favouritism in selection of beneficiaries. For example, more than five persons are (sic) selected in a family,� Bora stated, adding that there have been cases where panchayat representatives, who have been entrusted with preparing the list of beneficiaries, have included their own names as well as that of their kith and kin.
�In many places, the village-wise beneficiaries� lists have been prepared by including names of beneficiaries from outside the villages. The entire scam had (sic) been very widely circulated in print, electronic and social media in Assam. In many places, in spite of the lockdown, the deprived people come (sic) out of home and staged dharna and protest on the National Highway. Atul Bora, Agriculture Minister of Assam, admitted on record that anomalies and manipulation (have been) committed in the selection of beneficiaries. In Morigaon district, nearly 22,000 bogus and undeserving names are included in the list,� Bora stated.
He added that a few officials of the Agriculture department have been placed under suspension in the case and that members of the public have lodged FIR against the district agriculture officer of Nalbari at the local police station.
�According to an estimate made by a number of organisations and media houses, out of 31 lakh beneficiaries, more than 40 per cent beneficiaries are bogus... There are large-scale corruption and manipulation in selecting the beneficiaries at each gaon panchayat... I urge upon you to hand over this serious corruption case to CBI to enquire into details and to bring to book the culprits involved in the scam,� Bora wrote in his letter to the Prime Minister.
