Delay in input subsidy echoes in ZP meet

Members blame apathy of officials for lapses

Zilla panchayat members, in unison, alleged that due to the apathy of the Agriculture, Horticulture and Revenue officials thousands of farmers in the district have not received input subsidy, and pressed the authorities to set right the lapses and release the relief to the affected farmers immediately.

During the general body meeting of the ZP chaired by president M Latha Ravikumar, member Kempachowdappa said, "The government has fixed a compensation of Rs 6,500 per acre of dry land. But a few farmers have received a meagre Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 per acre while many farmers are yet to receive the relief." He sought to know why input subsidy was not paid to the farmers, who are reeling under severe drought.

Joint Director, Agriculture, Roopadevi told the meeting, "A total of 2,00,651 farmers in the district had enrolled for input subsidy. Rs 136 crore has been deposited into the bank accounts of the farmers through Parihar software. 6,967 farmers have not received the compensation due to some technical issues, including the failure to link Aadhaar to bank accounts. Soon, necessary measures would be taken to issue compensation to such farmers."

To which, Kempachowdappa said, "You are issuing compensation to the farmers who have enrolled for input subsidy. But what about the farmers who have not enrolled for the input subsidy? Why the department has not paid the full compensation amount fixed by the government? Why are you playing with the lives of the farmers?. Because of the lapses committed by you (Agri, Horticulture and Revenue departments), the farmers are suffering. You should set the things right," he said.

Another ZP member Kenchamaraiah explained to the meeting about how a nexus of the officials and the middlemen is cheating the farmers. "At the panchayat level, the village accountant has to record the details of the farmers. But most of the VAs have entrusted the job of obtaining the details of the farmers to 'others', who make the farmers cough up money to get their names included in the list.

“The panchayat officials would then send the list prepared by 'others' to the Agriculture department. The names of the farmers who refused to pay the middlemen would not be included in the list."

"The middlemen have asked my nephew to pay some money so that his name could be included in the list of beneficiaries of input subsidy. When he refused to part with money, his name was not included in the Parihar software despite the fact that he had all relevant documents in his possession. Hence, he has not received any input subsidy, Kenchamaraiah complained.

ZP CEO K G Shantaram told the meeting that the farmers have been enrolled for input subsidy after holding a joint survey by Agriculture, Horticulture and Revenue departments. He suggested the joint director of Agriculture department to review the cases wherein the farmers have received compensation less then the one fixed by the government and those who have not received any relief despite being enrolled and submit a report on the same.

Member G J Rajanna said, "The bankers are refusing the premium for crop insurance under Fasal Bima Yojana. I myself have faced the problem." He urged the president and the officers concerned to suggest the bankers to accept the premium.