Integrate digital land records with PM-KISAN database for seamless cash transfer: Centre to UTs

New Delhi, Sept 15: The Centre had asked the union territories to integrate the digital land records with the PM-KISAN database to ensure higher coverage and seamless transfer of cash directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.

The Agriculture Ministry has further sought the upgradation of beneficiary database, displaying beneficiary lists in the gram panchayats for social audit and completion of physical verification within stipulated time.

The pending grievances have to be resolved on a priority basis while cash recovery from ineligible and It paying farmers will be carried out.

These measures were underlined during the Lieutenant Governors meet organised by the Ministry of Agriculture here on Wednesday.

“The benefits of Central Government schemes for Agriculture sector should reach the correct farmers. Although funds are not a constraint, it is the implementation of the scheme which should be proper,” Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said.

Lieutenant Governor of J&K Majoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Island Admiral D K Joshi participated in the discussion and gave an overview of the implementation of various schemes of the central government in their respective union territories. Officials and delegates of other union territories also participated in the discussions, said a government statement.

The meeting also discussed the benefits that the union territories will derive from the recently announced National Palm Oil Mission, which has especially identified the Andaman islands and the Northeast states for palm oil seed cultivations.

The Minister said that under the Kisan Credit Card, Rs 14 lakh crore has been given to the farmers out of the Rs 16 lakh crore set for this year.

Referring to the Agriculture Infrastructure Funds and the Union Cabinet’s decision last month to extend the provisions of the funds for the development of APMCs, Tomar said the scheme will also help farmers secure loans for infrastructure development at the firm gate.

Under the modified programme, Rs 1700 crore and 20,000 employment opportunities in seven union territories are projected with the development of dry storage, packhouse, cold storage, ripening chamber, reefer vehicles, smart and precision farming etc.