MARGAO
Even as the Agriculture Director Neville Alphonso has started the exercise asking Goan farmers to refund the amount received under the PM Kisan Scheme since they are income tax payees or ineligible for the scheme, farmers are up in arms over the Union government’s diktat refusing to return the money.
In fact, farmers from Benaulim on Friday made it clear that they will not refund the amount to the Centre, as they made a humble plea to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to intervene and protect the interest of the farmers.
Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas, who has taken up cudgels for the farmers has requested farmers from across the State not to return the amount of Rs 6000 to the government till the time Sawant does not come out with a clear answer.
Carmona-based farmer Orlando Da Silva told media that he has been an income tax payee till 2016 when he had retired from service. “Since then, my total income does not cross the income tax slab. But, I have received a letter from the government to return Rs 6000. I have been a farmer from my childhood days, I do not know how to return the amount to the government”, he said.
Another farmer from Seraulim pointed out the PM Kisan scheme unveiled by the BJP government in the run up to the last elections was nothing but an election jumla. “The government had given the money to the farmers under the scheme, but they have now asked for a refund. When we don’t pay the tax, why should the farmers refund the money” , the farmer questioned.
Saying that the support price and the subsidy provided by the government does not suffice to make agriculture viable, the farmer said the government on the one hand is encouraging people to take up agriculture, but is seeking refund of the small amount.
The Benaulim MLA told media that the Agriculture Department has sent letters to around 3000 farmers from across the State to refund the money paid under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana scheme.
“No farmer should return the money before CM comes clear on the issue. Not only farmers from Benaulim, but farmers from across the State, including CM’s Sanquelim constituency will be affected by the Agriculture Director’s circular to refund the amount”, Venzy said.
In the letter, the Agriculture Director has stated that the Government of India has stated that the farmers are ineligible under the PM Kisan Scheme as they are Income Tax payees or are ineligible to avail benefit under the scheme, while requesting the farmers to refund the amount paid to them under the PM Kisan Scheme.
The farmers have been requested to visit the Zonal Agricuture Office for creating SBI challan. The challan copy mentions the details of the installment received by the farmers under Scheme to the Bank account mentioned.
