MoS concedes PM-KISAN irregularities in state
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, April 01 2025: The issue of Rs 10.03 crore fraud in the PM-KISAN scheme in Manipur, as revealed by an audit report, was raised in the Lok Sabha by Congress MP Dr Angomcha Bimol Akoijam on Tuesday.

In response, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Ramnath Thakur conceded that some irregularities were reported in the Accountant General (AG) Audit Report and confirmed that the Government of Manipur has lodged an FIR in the matter.

The minister said that the PM-KISAN scheme, launched in February 2019 by the Prime Minister, aims to supplement the financial needs of cultivable land-holding farmers through direct benefit transfers.

Under the scheme, Rs 6,000 per year is provided in three equal instalments into Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts through the DBT mode.

Since its inception, Rs 3.68 lakh crore has been disbursed over 19 instalments to farmers across the country.

Initially, the scheme operated on a trust-based system where states registered beneficiaries based on self-certification, with Aadhaar seeding relaxed in some cases.

However, to enhance transparency, several technological interventions were introduced, including integration with PFMS, UIDAI, and the Income Tax Department.

Land seeding was made mandatory along with Aadhaar-based payments and e-KYC, ensuring that only verified beneficiaries receive funds.

Farmers failing to meet these criteria had their benefits stopped, though they can receive dues once compliance is completed.

The minister informed that states and UTs are plan-dated to recover amounts transferred to ineligible farmers, including income tax payees, PSU employees, government staff, and constitutional post holders.

So far, Rs 416 crore has been recovered from ineligible beneficiaries across the country.

The government remains committed to maintaining absolute transparency in the registration and verification of beneficiaries, ensuring that funds reach genuine farmers without intermediaries.

Further measures to strengthen the system are being considered to prevent fraudulent registrations and misuse of welfare schemes, the minister added.

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