Ajay Sharma
Rajouri, June 18: Farmers in Rajouri have accused horticulture department of alallegedly not clearing pending subsidy liabilities under various horticulture schemes.
Talking to Northlines, farmers claimed that despite repeated assurances from the Horticulture Department, benefits promised under government schemes have not reached beneficiaries on the ground.
“The department has been encouraging cultivators to establish orchards and adopt horticulture-based farming by assuring them of financial assistance under schemes such as borewell installation, water storage tanks, irrigation facilities and other infrastructure support measures,” said farmers, alleging that the promised subsidies and reimbursements have remained pending for years.
Meanwhile a senior official within the department, speaking on the condition of anonymity, claimed that liabilities under the P-9 and P-15 schemes in Rajouri district alone have accumulated to more than Rs 2 crore over the years.
Recently, an amount of approximately Rs 23 lakh was released, but farmers alleged that the amount was insufficient compared to the overall pending liabilities and was distributed among multiple blocks of the district.
Many growers state that they invested in horticulture projects after taking loans from banks and other financial institutions, expecting government support under approved schemes. They claim that the delay in subsidy disbursement has placed them under significant financial stress.
“Farmers planted fruit-bearing trees, installed borewells and constructed water storage facilities after receiving assurances of financial assistance,” said farmers, adding that however, the benefits have not materialized as promised.
Sources maintained that new approvals under major subsidy schemes should be reviewed until existing liabilities are cleared.
“Approving fresh projects while old payments remain pending only adds to the growing burden of liabilities,” sources added.
Questions have also been raised regarding the role of district-level committees responsible for scrutinizing and forwarding subsidy proposals to higher authorities. Farmers are demanding greater accountability and transparency in the processing and release of funds.
When contacted, officials of the Horticulture Department did not provide a clear response regarding the timeline for clearance of pending liabilities.
Farmers have appealed to senior officials, including the Commissioner Secretary and Director Horticulture, to intervene and ensure that genuine beneficiaries receive their long-pending dues.
The affected farmers have urged the administration to address the issue on priority, stating that timely financial assistance is crucial for sustaining horticulture activities and protecting growers from mounting debt burdens.
