Thousands of West Bengal farmers are reportedly unable to avail the state’s ‘Krishak-Bandhu’ support scheme due to improper land papers. Out of the 70,000 cheques issued only 18,000 cheques have been distributed till 12th February.
Somnath Chakraborty reported in Anandabazar Patrika that out of 72 lakh farmers in the state, 26 lakh had applied for the scheme. After inspecting the land papers, the state issued 70,000 cheques to be distributed.
Under the scheme, if the farmer’s land papers are in his name,they can claim Rs. 2,500 twice in one year.
An official at the agriculture department told Anandabazar Patrika that most of the land ownership problems arising are of two types.
In the first instance, the farmer of the land is not the owner of the land. The land papers are in someone else’s name, who has leased it to the farmer for agriculture.
In the second instance, the land papers are in the name of the father while the land is being cultivated by the son. The father has passed away, but the son has not initiated land mutation process and put his name down as the owner of the land.
The official told Anandabazar Patrika that after the election dates were announced, distribution of cheque as well as the submission of new applications to avail the scheme was stopped.
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As per the newspaper’s sources in the government, after the elections, agriculture department officials will discuss the matter with the farmers to resolve the issue.
The state’s agriculture consultant Pradip Majumdar told Anandabazar Patrika, “On 31st December 2018, the chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced the Krishak-Bandhu scheme. This year on 29th January in Birbhum the chief minister herself handed over the cheques to farmers. After that 26 lakh farmers have applied for the scheme. Cheques were distributed till February.”
Majumdar reportedly added that before the election rules kicked in, only those farmers, whose applications were registered with the state agriculture department, have received the cheques till February 12th.