‘Named’ in scam, staffers of Agriculture Dept hold protest

Fatehgarh Sahib, January 24

The district unit of the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department staged a protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner Office today against the notices alleging their involvement in subsidy scams on agricultural machinery. The employees raised slogans against the government and demanded that the notices be withdrawn.

Union leader Jaswinder Singh said that they have been issued notices by the department, alleging their involvement in the scam.

Discussing the process, he said applications are submitted by the farmers on the department’s website for buying machinery at subsidised prices. He said after the purchase of machinery, the bills is submitted online, and the department staff verifies them and submit a report, after which the subsidy is given. Jaswinder said that in July 2022, the employees were instructed to physically verify the machinery bought in the financial years 2018-19 to 2021-22, and a report detailing the non-existence of some machines was sent to the government. He said that if a particular machine is not found with a farmer during the re-verification process, the department employees are not to blame. He said it was strange that notices were issued to those officials also who were not posted in the district during the period in question. He said that the employees are resentful and demand that these notices be withdrawn.