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Hindustan Times
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Fraud in agri dept: ACB records Anjali Damania's statement
MUMBAI: Social activist Anjali Damania on Wednesday appeared before the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and submitted evidence regarding alleged fraud in the state agricultural department when it was headed by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Dhananjay Munde. The activist alleged a ₹161-crore fraud in the department between July 2023 and November 2024, when Munde was a minister in the previous Mahayuti government. 'We recorded her statement for around four hours,' said an ACB official. Damania alleged that despite a central government directive in 2016 to transfer money directly to farmers' bank accounts via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), the agricultural department purchased equipment and fertilisers at inflated rates for distribution among farmers. BJP MLA Suresh Dhas had also alleged that Munde was involved in a ₹200-crore scam during his term as minister. The NCP leader has termed the allegations baseless and ridiculous. The ACB said that it is in the process of recording statements and evidence, after which it will start investigation.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Graft allegation against Munde: ACB calls Damania for inquiry
Mumbai: The ACB has called social activist Anjali Damania for an inquiry in connection with her complaint against leader and former cabinet minister Dhananjay Munde, said officials on Tuesday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Damania on Monday received a letter from the ACB in which she has been asked to remain present before the anti-graft agency's officials within two days, said an official. She had levelled allegations of corruption in the agriculture department when Munde held the portfolio during previous Mahayuti coalition government. In the ACB's letter, the activist has been asked to appear before its personnel with documents pertaining to the complaint against Munde. Damania shared the letter in a post on her X handle late on Monday and mentioned that she will go to the ACB office to present her case on Wednesday. Earlier this year, Damania alleged a Rs 88 crore scam in the agriculture department when Munde held the portfolio in the previous Mahayuti government. Despite the Union govt's 2016 directive to transfer money directly to farmers' bank accounts under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), the agriculture department purchased equipment and fertilisers for distribution to farmers at inflated rates, she claimed. Munde had dismissed Damania's allegations as "baseless and ridiculous". In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, environment minister and BJP leader Pankaja Munde said she was ready to face problems if the people are with her, while referring to the exile of Pandavas and noting that righteous people inevitably experience hardships in their lives. A highlight of the occasion was the first public appearance of NCP leader and Pankaja's embattled cousin Dhananjay Munde after months of political slugfest. PTI
News18
3 days ago
- Business
- News18
PM Kisan 20th Installment Date: PM Modi To Release Next Tranche On This Date; How To Apply?
Last Updated: The PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme gives Rs 6,000 annually to eligible farmers in three installments. The 20th installment is expected in June 2025. Farmers must complete e-KYC. PM Kisan 20th Installment Date: The income support scheme for farmers — PM Kisan Samman Nidhi — is one of the Centre's key initiatives to boost agricultural productivity and improve the income of growers. Under this scheme, the central government provides financial assistance of Rs 6,000 annually to eligible farmers in three equal installments of Rs 2,000, directly transferred to their bank accounts via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). So far, 19 installments have been released at four-month intervals. Prime Minister Narendra Modi disbursed the 19th installment in February 2025, benefiting more than 9.8 crore farmers, including 2.4 crore women. Earlier, the 18th installment was released in October 2024 and the 17th in June 2024. What Is The PM Kisan Scheme? Launched in 2019 after being announced in the Interim Budget by then Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, the PM Kisan scheme has become the world's largest DBT scheme. Under it, eligible farmers receive Rs 2,000 every four months totaling Rs 6,000 annually in the following cycles — April-July, August-November, and December-March. The money is deposited directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. PM Kisan 20th Installment Date: When Will It Be Released? As the last (19th) installment was issued in February 2025, the 20th installment is expected in June 2025. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to release the amount, though the exact date and location of the event is yet to be announced. PM Kisan e-KYC: Mandatory For Installments As per the scheme's official website, 'eKYC is MANDATORY for PMKISAN Registered Farmers." You can complete e-KYC via an OTP-based eKYC on PM-KISAN Portal or a biometric-based eKYC at the nearest Common Service Centre (CSC). How To Check PM Kisan Beneficiary Status? How To Check Name In PM Kisan Beneficiary List? You'll see the complete list of beneficiaries. How To Apply For PM Kisan Samman Nidhi? For any queries, you can call the PM-KISAN helpline numbers — 155261 and 011-24300606. Stay updated with all the latest business news, including market trends, stock updates, tax, IPO, banking finance, real estate, savings and investments. Get in-depth analysis, expert opinions, and real-time updates—only on News18. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : PM Kisan instalment PM Kisan Scheme Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 03, 2025, 11:53 IST News business » economy PM Kisan 20th Installment Date: PM Modi To Release Next Tranche On This Date; How To Apply?
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
CM urged to release balance crop insurance amount to distressed farmers in Kalaburagi
Deputy Chairman of Karnataka State Policy and Planning Commission B.R. Patil has written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah urging him to immediately release compensation under crop insurance scheme to aid distressed farmers in Kalaburagi district, particularly those affected by failed tur (pigeon pea) crops during the 2024 monsoon season. According to the letter, 8.9 lakh hectares were under cultivation in the district during the 2024 kharif season, with tur being the predominant crop cultivated over 6.27 lakh hectares. The other major crops included black gram, green gram, soybean and cotton. With 90% of the district's agriculture rain-dependent, farmers continue to face the consequences of erratic rainfall patterns, including both excess and deficient rain. Out of the 5.35 lakh farmers, only 2.04 lakh enrolled under the Karnataka Raitha Suraksha – Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (KRS-PMFBY), indicating only 38% coverage. Mr. Patil commended the State government's revised insurance policy model (80:110) for instilling hope among farmers. Under this model, his constituency saw the formation of farmer groups in every village, resulting in 63,337 enrolments, primarily for rain-fed tur crops. However, following a 71% rainfall deficit in November, tur crops began to dry up rapidly. 'Before agricultural scientists and myself visited the fields and found solutions for the problem, the crop had already dried. Later, GPS-based crop loss assessments were conducted by village revenue officers in accordance with government guidelines. The report has been sent to the government. Previously, no MLA from Aland constituency had taken such proactive measures. As a result of this meticulous crop-cutting analysis and farmer participation, Aland taluk alone has been sanctioned ₹225 crore in insurance relief. Similar efforts by other MLAs across the district have contributed to a cumulative relief proposal of ₹656 crore,' Mr. Patil said. 'Only ₹191 crore has been disbursed to 2.03 lakh farmers via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) which included ₹75.077 crore under local disaster compensation, ₹2.62 crore for post-harvest losses and ₹119 crore released by IFCO-TOKIO insurance company. However, the remaining ₹465 crore is yet to be disbursed,' Mr. Patil said. Mr. Patil expressed concern that certain complaints from political opponents may have prompted the Finance Department to withhold the remaining funds, citing doubts over the crop loss assessments. 'The surveys were conducted honestly and transparently by government officials. Delays in compensation can discourage future farmer participation in the crop insurance scheme. With monsoon fast approaching, the farmers require immediate financial assistance to purchase seeds and fertilisers for sowing,' he said. In his letter, Mr. Patil has urged the Chief Minister to ensure the prompt release of the remaining amount to support farmers in recovering from losses and preparing for the new agricultural season.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
CPI(M) opposes move to give money in place of ration goods in Andhra Pradesh
CPI(M) State secretary V. Srinivasa Rao has opposed Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's announcement that cardholders who do not want ration goods will be given money. The decision will undermine the public distribution system (PDS) and lead to price hike, he says. In a statement on Sunday, Mr. Srinivasa Rao appealed to the government not to 'starve the poor' under the guise of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme. He said the party would opposes the cash transfer scheme under the pretext that people were selling the rice disbursed through the PDS. 'If the price of rice rises in the market, the government's cash component will not increase accordingly, which only harms the poor,' he observed. 'If quality rice is supplied, no one will give up the ₹1-a-kg commodity and buy it at ₹60 per kg in the open market. The solution to prevent illegal transportation and ensure that ration rice is not diverted lies in distributing fine quality rice through the PDS,' Mr. Srinivasa Rao said. Those who had migrated to other States for livelihood should be allowed to collect their ration once every two or three months, he said, and appealed to the government to withdraw its decision to give cash in place of ration goods.
