SHILLONG: The state BJP, which is supporting the ruling MDA coalition, has sounded an alert over alleged discrepancies in the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) in the state.
Speaking to newsmen here on Wednesday, state BJP chief Ernest Mawrie said that COVID-19 is a humanitarian crisis and no one should try to benefit from it.
“We have received numerous complaints from the state, especially from Garo Hills, of discrepancies as the benefits of the scheme are reaching only to selected people,” Mawrie said.
Urging Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to ensure fair distribution of the scheme, he added that the party has already apprised the Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan, of the anomalies.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the extension of the PMGKAY till the end of November to provide free ration to the poor ration cardholders to help them cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stating that the poor are the worst-affected due to the lockdown and that is why the government has chosen to provide them the maximum relief, he added that the call on further extension of the scheme will be taken by the Centre.
On the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, Mawrie said, “Under the scheme, every farmer is entitled to receive Rs 6,000 per year in their account. However, in Meghalaya, where eighty per cent of the population depends on farming, the scheme is not reaching out to the beneficiaries”.
“Farmers are facing difficulties in registering under this scheme as the local authorities are not helping them,” the BJP chief added.