PM-KISAN funds row in West Bengal: BJP claims ₹10,500 crore disbursed; TMC cries foul

Bharatiya Janta Party State President Samik Bhattacharya said that more than ₹10,500 crore funds have been distributed to West Bengal farmers under the Pradhan Mantri-KISAN scheme. However, the Trinamool Congress leadership has accused many times that Bengal farmers did not receive any funds under the scheme, leading Chief Minister Banerjee to launch her own farmers’ relief program in the state.

“The 21st installment has been released, covering 46 lakh farmers in West Bengal, with a total disbursement of ₹920 crore. Farmers in West Bengal have been deprived of the first nine installments due to the State Government’s delay in participating in the PM-KISAN scheme,” Mr. Bhattacharya said in a statement on Tuesday (November 18). he said.

He also claimed that the first 10 installments of money under this scheme could not be given to Bengal farmers as the State government remained “reluctant” to participate in the central scheme. He also alleged that the TMC-led WB government was doing its best to not allow the central government’s schemes for the marginalized and remote people to reach the intended audience, depriving the poor in Bengal of these benefits.

Under the Central Government scheme, eligible marginal farmers will get ₹6,000 each in three annual installments.

However, CM Banerjee had earlier alleged that their government had not released funds despite sending verified names of farmers to the central government. Instead he launched a scheme to offer ₹5,000 per head to the peasants of Bengal and also arranged for free crop insurance.

Responding to the issue, State Vice President and TMC Spokesperson Jay Prakash Majumdar said: “These allegations by Mr. Bhattacharya are illogical and baseless. When PM Modi launches a social scheme, state governments are not required to promote it. The Center cannot stop schemes in states on its own terms. The Chief Minister collects the money for these schemes from taxpayers’ money and does not spend it from his own pocket. Every state should benefit from this.” Hindu On Tuesday, November 18th.

Mr. Majumdar further added that it was better if some of these programs were carried out by the State government under its special projects.

Long battle for plans

The BJP-led union government and the TMC-led World Bank government have engaged in a war of words many times over the release of funds under central schemes and the lack thereof.

Schemes like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (affordable housing scheme) had been suspended in West Bengal for a long time following allegations of corruption. In both cases, Ms. Banerjee launched her own ambitious counter-plans.