Haryana Congress leader writes to PM

CHANDIGARH: A Congress leader from Haryana, Satpal Kaushik, has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi against the discontinuation of payment of subsidy through direct benefit transfer (DBT) in bank accounts of farmers by officials and the distribution of sub-standard agriculture material in the state.

Kaushik, who hails from Yamunanagar, alleged in his representation that before 2015-2016, the amount of subsidy was shared by some officials and their agents on the basis of fake documents, though later, on the orders of central government, the state government started payment of the subsidy through DBT in the bank accounts of the farmers.

Kaushik, party’s former state general secretary, alleged that later the direct transfer of subsidy was discontinued and it was not being paid through bank

SATPAL KAUSHIK SAYS OFFICIALS STOPPED PAYMENT OF SUBSIDY TO FARMERS THROUGH DBT AS THEY DON’T GET CUTS

accounts. The government instead gave agriculture material, seeds and equipments to the farmers.

The seeds, pesticides and agricultural implements being provided on subsidy are purchased at very high prices and distributed to farmers which were not recommended by scientists for a particular area, he alleged and added that a high-profile scam was suspected.

Urging Modi to ensure that subsidy meant for farmers be given through DBT in the farmers’ accounts, Kaushik said the government has now started giving seeds and pesticides irrespective of the exact requirement of the farmers of different regions.