The central government’s push to “cleanse” the PM-Kisan database has hit home in Kurukshetra, as authorities moved to reclaim funds from those who bypassed eligibility rules.
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The Ineligibility Filter: Following a digital audit by the Income Tax Department and the Union Ministry of Agriculture, 2,000 beneficiaries in the district were flagged. The majority of these cases involve individuals who have filed income tax returns in the last assessment year, which automatically disqualifies them from the small and marginal farmer welfare scheme.
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The Recovery Mechanism: The notices specify the exact number of installments received by each individual. Total recovery across the district is estimated to be in the range of several crores. Farmers have been directed to deposit the money either through the PM-Kisan portal’s “Refund” module or by submitting a demand draft to the Agriculture Department.
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Standard Operating Procedure (SOP): As per the Centre’s 2020 guidelines, state governments are responsible for identifying and recovering funds from ineligible recipients. “We are following a strict SOP. If the amount is not returned voluntarily within the stipulated time, we will initiate ‘Red Entries’ in their land records, which will prevent them from selling land or taking fresh agricultural loans,” said a senior agriculture officer in Kurukshetra.
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Common Mistakes: Officials noted that many ineligible people registered during the initial launch in 2019 without realizing that the “Exclusion Category” included retired pensioners (receiving more than ₹10,000/month) and professionals like doctors or engineers who own ancestral farmland.
