SHILLONG: Agriculture Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh has erred on the number of vehicles available with the iTEAMS to market the produce of the farmers.
During the question hour, Lyngdoh informed that the government has arranged 18 mini trucks for 1917 iTEAMS to facilitate the purchase of agricultural produce directly from the farmers in various villages.
According to him, the iTEAMS has also been deployed for transportation of agricultural produce.
Though the number of vehicles was 18, in reply to a supplementary question raised by Zenith Sangma (Congress), the minister first gave wrong district-wise figures beyond 18 which resulted in a peal of laughter in the House.
The minister also mentioned the names of districts which did not avail the service of iTEAMS.
When asked to provide the correct numbers, the minister said the figure was provided by the officer of the department.
After Zenith went on insisting for the correct district-wise break-up of the vehicles, he said out of 18 vehicles with iTEAMS, Ri Bhoi was allotted 5, South West Khasi Hills 2, West Jaintia Hills 1, West Khasi Hills 2, East Khasi Hills 3 and West Garo Hills 5.
Pointing out that South West Garo Hills does not have a vehicle under iTEAMS, the Congress MLA Miani Shira urged the minister to look into the matter.
To another question, the minister informed that Rs 95.99 lakh was provided as financial assistance with 74 per cent subsidy to a total number of 32,000 farmers through the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) Yojana.
