Irregularities in micro irrigation scheme: Centre seeks report from Jharkhand govt

In an investigation spanning a month and a half and tracking 94 farmers in three blocks in Hazaribagh, The Indian Express found that for most, benefits were only on paper. Among the findings of the investigation were misuse of Aadhaar cards to create beneficiaries and some farmers not even aware that money had been collected by private companies in their name.

Drip irrigation equipment lies unused at the home of a beneficiary in Chouparan’s Poro village. (Abhishek Angad)

“I request for your intervention in this matter for taking action against the persons found responsible for such irregularities, including initiation of criminal proceedings. I would also like to request you to get it enquired by a sufficiently senior officer who is not in the reporting channel of the PDMC scheme. A report in this regard may also be sent to this department at the earliest,” Ahuja wrote.

The Indian Express had also reported how the four-step verification process to ensure that the scheme is implemented on the ground fell flat under the watch of the state agriculture department, and was rigged by middlemen, who acting on behalf of companies, enrolled farmers as beneficiaries.

The Jharkhand government is also conducting an inquiry into the irregularities, while the state’s Agriculture Director has asked the Hazaribagh Agriculture Office to register FIRs against any erring Nabcons employees and private companies.