Hyderabad: It is not easy to transfer the Centre’s dole under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan (Kisan Samman Nidhi) directly into farmers’ bank accounts as correct data is not available in several states.
It might be easier in Telangana state, as the state government is already implementing the Rythu Bandhu scheme.
There are around 48 lakh small and marginal farmers in TS who have less than five acres of agriculture land.
The Central government wants to transfer the first instalment of funds under the Kisan scheme before end of March, means before the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
But it will first have to issue guidelines of the scheme for implementation.
It has to collect district-wise data from all states. For that it will have to depend on state governments, as it has no machinery to collect data on its own.
After collecting data, the Central government will have to do a random check before finalising the beneficiaries’ list from each state.
A senior IAS officer from Telangana said it is still not clear whether the Centre will allot funds according to the beneficiaries’ list or make state-wise allotment of funds.
He said they are confused about implementation of the scheme. The Lok Sabha election schedule is likely to be announced in the last week of February or first week of March. It will not be possible for the Centre to finalise beneficiaries’ data in all states by then.
It will become even more difficult once the model code of conduct comes into force. State government officials were not sure if the Centre will take permission to implement the scheme, saying it is an ongoing scheme, or pause till Lok Sabha elections are over.
A senior TS government official involved in implementation of the Rythu Bandhu scheme said it will take a long time for the Centre to finalise the beneficiaries’ list across the country. He said they worked for nearly five-six months to collect data on the beneficiaries’ list for the state government.
Some officers say it would be better if the Central government implements the scheme through state governments.
The Centre can cross-check how states were implementing it. But the Central government wants to take credit in view of the ensuing Lok Sabha poll. It fears state governments might take credit if they implement it.
For the Rythu Bandhu scheme, the state government spends around Rs 14,000 crore. To pay Rs 6,000 to each of 47 lakh small and marginal farmers each year, the Centre would require Rs 3,000 crore. So, Telangana state is likely to get Rs 3,000 crore per year, reducing the financial burden on the state exchequer for implementing Rythu Bandhu.
