Mamata writes to Modi for release of funds under PM-Kisan scheme

Kolkata, May 6 (UNI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to advise the concerned ministry to release due fund of eligible farmers under PM-Kisan scheme.

Continuing her belligerent tone with the Centre, she  cited several communications sent to Central Govt
earlier by her ministry.  Ms Banerjee reminded him that she had written earlier in December 2020, to the Union Minister of Agriculture for providing benefits of PM-KISAN scheme to the farmers of the West Bengal
“I had written earlier on 31.12.2020 to the Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, on providing benefits of PM-Kisan (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi) Scheme to the farmers of the State of West Bengal,” the chief minister wrote in her letter.
Ms Banerjee said several communications were also made from the State Government, Department of Agriculture. However, no concrete response has yet been received from the Ministry on this.
She said the State Government, about five months ago, appointed State Nodal Agency (SNA), State Nodal Officer (SNO), opened two Bank Accounts, viz. State Notional Account and Administrative Account- following Operational Guidelines of the scheme, the details of which were communicated to the Ministry and were acknowledged by them.
“You will appreciate that under the Krishak Bandhu scheme announced by the State Government in December 2048, Rs 1,498 crore was disbursed to 57.67 lakh eligible farmers and Rs 242 crore has been disbursed to families as death benefits to the deceased farmers up to February 2021,” she wrote.
Further, all farmers are covered under this scheme, whereas PM- Kisan -has long exclusion Mist comprising of Bargadar / share croppers, persons giving self-declaration, serVing / retired employees, Income Taxpayers etc. Moreover, under, Kishan Bandhu scheme, beneficiaries get benefits assistance of Rs. 2 lakh for death below 60 years of age, Ms Banerjee said.
“I would like to further impress that during your recent visit to the State, you gave repeated assurances on releasing the arrear amount of Rs. 18,000 to each farmer, but to date, no fund has been received by the State of West Bengal or the farmers,” the chief minister wrote.
“ I would, therefore, request you to kindly advice the concerned Ministry to release the due fund to the eligible farmers and share the database of the 21.79 lakh farmers,” she wrote in her letter.