ASSAM CABINET: Farmers with land patta, small tea growers eligible for PM-Kisan Scheme

GUWAHATI:

The Assam Cabinet on Thursday decided to make farmers with land patta besides those eligible for patta under Forest Rights Act eligible for benefits under the PM-Kisan scheme.

Besides, the Cabinet also decided to make farmers who cultivate land in Debottar land along with small tea growers and horticulture farmers eligible for benefits under the scheme.

The Cabinet decision comes in the wake of Assam securing the “dubious” top spot regarding irregularities in the PM Kisan scheme, with 8.35 lakh ‘ineligible’ or ‘fake farmers’ getting benefits amounting Rs 558.01 crore.

Prior to the Cabinet meeting, state agriculture minister Atul Bora however informed reporters that requisite measures would be taken and ineligible beneficiaries would have to return the money taken so far under the scheme.

The Cabinet also decided to introduce reforms in the education sector by involving Panchayati Raj institutions to ensure quality education at the grassroots level.

Addressing newsmen here, education minister and Cabinet spokesperson, Ranoj Pegu said district level vigilance and monitoring committee for education will be formed with the zila parishad president as chairman while a block-level vigilance and monitoring committee will be formed with anchalik panchayat president as chairman.

Pegu informed that deputy commissioners have been empowered to directly give allotment for extraction of silt from river basins.

“However, the existing rules of the environment and forest department will prevail in case of extraction of sand and stones,” he said.

Continuing with its agenda of introducing administrative reforms, the Cabinet also approved the formation of financial committees.

“The departmental finance committee will sanction projects up to Rs 2 crore and hold a meeting every Monday. The standing finance committee headed by the chief secretary will sanction projects of Rs 2 crore to Rs 10 crore and hold a meeting every Tuesday,” Pegu said.

“A special standing finance committee headed by the finance minister will give an appraisal of projects of Rs 10 crore to Rs 100 crore and get approved by the chief minister. The committee will hold a meeting every Thursday,” he said.

Regarding the financial sanction of projects above Rs 100 crore, the department will place projects directly in the Cabinet.

The Cabinet approved the formation of the Indigenous and Tribal Faith and Culture department with three directorates, directorate of archaeology, directorate of museum and directorate of historical and antiquarian studies to function under it.

(Edited by Christopher Gatphoh)

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