PM aid for Vidarbha: State admits to irregularities

The state has admitted to the Bombay High Court that preferential treatment was given to some farmers while disbursing the Prime Minister’s relief package for Vidarbha.

The state has admitted to the Bombay High Court that preferential treatment was given to some farmers while disbursing the Prime Minister’s relief package for Vidarbha.

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The state said there are no guidelines for disbursing funds.

The court is hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) by non-governmental organisation (NGO), Janhit Manch. The court has asked the government to give details of the number of farmers who have applied for aid and the actual number that received aid.

The PIL alleged of 10,637 families, only 2,924 families were deserving of aid and that farmers with political links had gained from the package.

The funds were meant for families of farmers who had committed suicide, farmers who fall below the poverty line and to landless labourers.

The petition alleged that the financial package, announced by the PM in June 2006, never really reached the real beneficiaries. The aid was illegally claimed by well-to-do farmers, the petition alleged.

The NGO has requested the high court to ensure the aid reached needy farmers and their families.