Over 81,000 Bihar Farmers Deemed Ineligible for PM-Kisan Scheme, Refund Collection Underway

In a recent development, it has been revealed that more than 81,000 farmers in Bihar have been declared ineligible for the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme. The government has swiftly taken action, instructing state-owned banks to expedite the process of collecting refunds from these farmers. The decision was made based on various grounds, including income tax payments and other disqualifying factors.

Alok Ranjan Ghosh, Director of Agriculture in Bihar, confirmed this development, stating, "After thorough scrutiny, a total of 81,595 farmers have been identified as ineligible beneficiaries in Bihar. Among these, 45,879 farmers were disqualified for being income tax payees since 2020, and 35,716 were found ineligible for other reasons. The state's agriculture department has promptly directed all relevant banks to accelerate the collection of refund amounts, which collectively sum up to approximately Rs 81.6 crore."

This matter was given top priority during a recent meeting of the State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC), where senior officials were instructed to expedite the refund collection process. In addition, the banks have been tasked with sending fresh reminders to the disqualified farmers and freezing their accounts if necessary.

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According to Ghosh, certain banks have already collected around Rs 10.3 crore in refund money from these ineligible farmers. The PM-Kisan scheme, which commenced operations on December 1, 2018, aims to provide income support of Rs 6,000 per year in three equal installments to all land-holding farmer families across the country. State governments play a crucial role in identifying eligible farmer families in accordance with the scheme's guidelines, after which the funds are directly transferred to the beneficiaries' bank accounts.

This initiative has been a significant source of financial relief for many farmers, but it also requires careful scrutiny to ensure that only those who meet the eligibility criteria continue to receive the benefits. The government's proactive steps to rectify any discrepancies and collect refunds from ineligible beneficiaries demonstrate its commitment to maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of the PM-Kisan scheme.

As the refund collection process gains momentum in Bihar, it is expected that the scheme will continue to provide essential support to deserving farmer families while upholding the principles of transparency and fairness in its implementation.

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