New Delhi/Patna: As the 24th installment of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi approaches, 'The Freelance' investigative team's ground reporting reveals a concerning picture of administrative hurdles and technical glitches. While rumors swirl about the Rs 2,000 installment hitting bank accounts ahead of Diwali, millions of farmers face the threat of exclusion due to pending e-KYC and land verification issues, particularly in states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
The Ground Reality: Pending E-KYC Hurdles
Data from several districts in Bihar indicates that nearly 13 million farmers have already been removed from the beneficiary list, with an additional 1.8 million facing a similar threat. In various blocks, thousands of farmers still have their e-KYC pending, risking total disqualification from the upcoming payout if formalities are not completed immediately.
Four Major Updates and Farmer Challenges
The Ministry of Agriculture has emphasized four critical compliance steps that farmers must complete:
- Mandatory biometric or OTP-based e-KYC.
- Land seeding and digital verification of agricultural land records.
- Linking Aadhaar with active bank accounts for seamless DBT transfers.
- Rectification of discrepancies leading to wrongful exclusions.
Policy Paradoox: Global Partnerships vs. Domestic Struggles
While the Union Agriculture Ministry recently announced strategic agricultural partnerships with the Netherlands to boost technology and supply chains, the contrast with grassroots struggles remains stark. Until localized e-KYC and digital literacy barriers are resolved, high-level policy triumphs will do little to soothe the immediate anxieties of marginalized farmers awaiting their seasonal stipends.
