BJP seeks Odisha govt reply over delay in sending beneficiary

The opposition BJP on Tuesday sought to know from the state government the reason behind delay in submitting the complete list of farmers who would be eligible for the PM-KISAN scheme, while alleging that the Naveen Patnaik-led dispensation was misleading its people.

Leader of Opposition Pradipta Kumar Naik raised the matter during the Zero Hour in the Assembly, seeking an explanation for missing out on the July 15 deadline set by the Centre for submitting the list.

"We fail to understand why the state government is not giving the list of small and marginal farmers to the Centre for disbursement of financial assistance under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojna (PM-KISAN)," the BJP leader said.

While the state government claimed to have disbursed Rs 50 lakh to small and marginal farmers under its KALIA (Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation) scheme, the "reason for not providing the same list of beneficiaries to the Centre is not clear yet", he said.

"The central government has decided to include Odisha's 45 lakh small and marginal farmers under the PM-Kisan scheme, while the state government has so far submitted the list of only nine lakh farmers. The BJD government is misleading people," Naik pointed out.

Under the Centre's PM-KISAN scheme, a financial assistance of Rs 6,000 is provided in three equal installments every year to the families of small and marginal farmers who have combined land holding or ownership of up to two hectares.

"Will the government tell the House what action will be taken against the officers who did not meet the July 15 deadline," the leader of opposition said.

Shortly after, BJP deputy leader B C Sethi stood up to speak on the matter, but the Congress members raised a different issue and rushed to the well of the House, making his statement inaudible.

No one from the BJD, however, responded to Sethi's allegations in the assembly.

Later, a senior official at the agriculture department said a list of 30 lakh farmers, eligible under the central scheme, has already been sent to the Centre.

Talking to reporters outside the House, the BJP leader said, "There is an arrangement between the BJD and the Congress. They (Congress MLAs) create disturbance when we speak anything against the state government."