Corruption In Input Subsidy To Farmers

As poor farmers with draught affected crops wait for the government sanctioned input subsidy to reach them, turns out that they aren't likely to, as all the money allegedly is sneaking its way to the pockets of govt. officials, farmers under the Aadarsh Rythu scheme, and their relatives.

It has been several months since the subsidy was sanctioned, and hundreds of crores have been spent, but lakhs of farmers haven't seen a single rupee, as all the money is going to "Aadarsh" farmers, and their relatives.

Despite repeated complaints by the farmers there, there has been to action taken by the officials of the agriculture department.

In Nagarkurnool of Tadur mandal, ordinary farmers are being cheated out of lakhs of rupees, and a study of records showed several inconsistancies and irregularities. For instance, the records show that a family member of an "Aadarsh" famer got Rs. 7 lakhs in input subsidy. Nagarakurnool MLA Nagam Janardhan Reddy, when confronted with the evidence of corruption by the farmers, went to the Agriculture Department there with it. The officials, however, instead of taking action and starting an inquiry, wrote it off as a print mistake.

Similar issues were seen to have occured in Peddapur vellage of Kalwakurthy mandal, where around Rs. 5 lakhs were allegedly given to "Aadarsh" farmers under the names of people who were found to be deceased. Farmers who are still waiting for the aid say that when they go to officials with their grievances, the "records" show that the money has already been sanctioned under their name, with not a single paisa to show for it in their accounts.

In 2011, the state government promised 8.40 lakh farmers an input subsidy of Rs. 258.75 crores. After consulting the agriculture dept. and revenue dept. officials, Rs. 6000 per hactare of land was agreed on, to go directly into the back accounts of affected farmers as input subsidy.

However, corrupt practices have ensured that a majority of the affected farmers don't get the relief promised to them.