12.72 lakh ineligible beneficiaries received Rs 782 crore under BJD’s KALIA scheme, claims CAG report
- In Reports
- 04:09 PM, Sep 13, 2024
- Myind Staff
In its report released later on Wednesday, the Comptroller and Auditor General revealed that 12.72 lakh “ineligible beneficiaries” availed assistance worth Rs 782.26 crore under the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme, which is credited with helping the BJD win the 2019 Odisha elections. According to the audit report, CAG noted that the state government had provided KALIA benefit assistance to 65.64 lakh beneficiaries during 2019-21. The report also unfolded that it also released instalments thrice to 41.64 lakh beneficiaries, twice to 8.09 lakh beneficiaries and only once to 15.91 lakh beneficiaries.
“This happened due to the identification of 9.76 lakh ineligible beneficiaries while implementing the scheme. In addition to this, the audit also analysed the KALIA database, with reference to other databases like SECC, VAHAN, IFMS and HRMS and identified another 2.96 lakh ineligible beneficiaries, bringing the total number of identified ineligible beneficiaries to 12.72 lakh,” said the audit report. The CAG also added that there were “remote chances of recovery” of the amount from the ineligible beneficiaries.
According to the report, the Payment of Rs 107.64 crore was released to 1.28 lakh account holders. However, to its surprise, it found that the names of account holders were different from the names of the beneficiaries which clarified that the payment was released to unauthorised persons. The KALIA Scheme, focused on helping farmers, sharecroppers and landless agricultural labourers was launched months before the Centre launched its PM-Kisan scheme in the run-up to the 2019 elections. Although the BJD government had initially made a promise of Rs 10,000 to farmers and Rs 12,500 to landless agricultural labourers under the scheme in two instalments every year. However, the assistance was reduced to Rs 4,000 after PM-Kisan was launched.
The new BJP government in Odisha acknowledged its popularity and as a result, it repackaged the scheme and launched it as the CM-Kisan scheme. The CAG report also stated that the state government department that implemented the scheme did not provide complete databases of the KALIA portal including other databases that were used in the selection and identification of beneficiaries despite repeated requests. As per the report, out of total disbursement of Rs 9,333 crore, an amount of Rs 2,060.29 crore pertaining to the year 2021-22 disbursed by the department could not be analysed due to the absence of data and information.
The report also confirmed the lack of preparedness as the department did not ensure the feasibility of implementation of the scheme. Consequently, out of six components under KALIA scheme approved by the government, only two components – support to cultivators for cultivation and livelihood support for landless agricultural households – were implemented during 2018-21. The audit report also claimed that by engaging a private firm without inviting a tender, the government extended its undue favours. The firm was engaged to provide system support for the KALIA scheme, and the work was awarded at a cost of Rs 1 crore.
Image Source: Economic Times
Comments