Ajay Sharma
Rajouri, February 28
Despite issuance of directives by the Directorate of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Jammu, emphasizing strict adherence to the guidelines for the implementation of Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) projects, the Chief Agriculture Officer (CAO) Rajouri appears ‘not-in-a-mood’ to follow the guidelines but defy the same.
According to the available documents, in a letter addressed to the Chief Agriculture Officer, Rajouri, the Directorate highlighted concerns regarding the execution of the “Farm Mechanization for Resource Use Efficiency in Hill Agriculture” project under HADP.
“The project/scheme provides a 50% subsidy for tractor/implements purchases, but reports indicate that prescribed guidelines have not been fully followed,” reads the letter, adding that as per the guidelines, the project must be executed in complete compliance with the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) norms.
According to these provisions, SC/ST/S&M/Women farmers are eligible for a 50% subsidy in North-East, Himalayan states and Union Territories that includes J&K & Ladakh, while farmers in other states receive 40%, with a maximum subsidy cap of ₹5 lakh for purchase of tractors.
The Director, Agriculture Jammu has sought an explanation from the concerned CAO Rajouri regarding non-compliance of this central scheme over a month back but the CAO reportedly avoided furnishing the directed information/status report on the scheme and about beneficiaries.
Furthermore, CAO has been instructed to submit detailed reports, including the status of applications on the Kisan Sathi portal, fund disbursement details, authority letters, and a list of subsidy recipients.
Sources revealed that the Directorate of Agriculture seeking such details from CAO following incessant complaints of corruption and nepotism in functioning of District Agriculture office in Rajouri.
Sources alleged that there were irregularities in the distribution of agricultural subsidies by Chief Agriculture Officer Rajouri.
“The incessant reports on social media and print media highlighted serious lapses in the implementation of a Central government-mandated 50% subsidy scheme for tractors and other farming equipment,” said sources, adding that despite multiple complaints and media revelations, beneficiaries in Rajouri claimed that they have not received their entitled subsidies.
If sources are to be believed, the Agriculture Department’s top officials, including the Director and Commissioner of Agriculture, have preferred silence on the issue.
“Even after direct orders from the Director of Agriculture to ensure that all eligible farmers receive their subsidies, the CAO has allegedly disregarded the instructions, showcasing what many describe as an ego-driven misuse of power,” asserted sources.
Sources alleged that in the past many years, only 65 to 70 tractors have been distributed across five subdivisions with discriminated amount of subsidies by pick and choose method.
An application under Right to Information (RTI) Act seeking information regarding subsidy disbursement, beneficiaries and other information has not been responded by the PIO of CAO office. The open defiance of Right to Information law by the Government officials speaks volumes about the tall claims of Transparency about public affairs and accountability.
While the Chief Agriculture Officer, Rajouri did not respond to the calls for official version, the Director, Agriculture Jammu remained inaccessibly over phone.
The consistent flouting of norms and interference in the standing guidelines in Farmers Welfare Schemes by the presiding officers and inaction by the top controlling officials in the mess poses a serious question on the implementation of the central government’s development scheme on ground.
