Lok Sabha Question No. 304 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-02
Subject: Implementation of relief schemes for farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Adv Gowaal Kagada Padavi, Shri Manoj Kumar, Shri Vishaldada Prakashbapu Patil, Ms. Praniti Sushilkumar Shinde

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 304

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 02 ND  DECEMBER, 2025

## IMPLEMENTATION OF RELIEF SCHEMES FOR FARMERS

304.   SHRI MANOJ KUMAR:

MS. PRANITI SUSHILKUMAR SHINDE: SHRI VISHALDADA PRAKASHBAPU PATIL: ADV GOWAAL KAGADA PADAVI:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has reviewed the implementation of relief schemes for farmers affected by floods, droughts and pest attacks in Bihar and Maharashtra during the last five years;

- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the total funds allocated, disbursed and utilised under such schemes during the said period;
- (c) whether the Government has received any reports of irregularities, delays or misuse of relief funds under these programmes in the State;
- (d)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  corrective  measures  taken  to  ensure  timely  and transparent disbursal of relief assistance to affected farmers; and
- (e)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  introduce  any  digital  or  real-time  monitoring system to track relief fund flow and prevent fake or duplicate beneficiary entries in future, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a)  &  (b):  As  per  the  National  Policy  on  Disaster  Management  (NPDM),  the  primary responsibility  for  disaster  management,  including  disbursal  of relief  assistance  on  ground level,  rests  with  the  State  Governments  concerned.  The  State  Governments  undertake relief  measures  in  the  wake  of  natural  calamities,  from  State  Disaster  Response  Fund (SDRF) already placed at their disposal, in accordance with Government of India approved items and norms. The Central Government  supplements the efforts of the State Governments  and  provides  requisite  logistics  and  financial  support.  Additional  financial assistance is  provided  from  National  Disaster  Response  Fund (NDRF), as  per laid  down procedure, in case of disaster of 'severe nature', which includes an assessment based on the visit of an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT).

The details of the fund allocated and released under SDRF/NDRF to the States of Bihar and Maharashtra is as under:

| State       | Fund allocated / released under SDRF (Central Share + State Share) in the last five years (Rs. in crores)   | Fund allocated / released under SDRF (Central Share + State Share) in the last five years (Rs. in crores)   | Fund allocated / released under SDRF (Central Share + State Share) in the last five years (Rs. in crores)   | Fund allocated / released under SDRF (Central Share + State Share) in the last five years (Rs. in crores)   | Fund allocated / released under SDRF (Central Share + State Share) in the last five years (Rs. in crores)   |
|-------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Year        | 2021-22                                                                                                     | 2022-23                                                                                                     | 2023-24                                                                                                     | 2024-25                                                                                                     | 2025-26                                                                                                     |
| Bihar       | 1510.40                                                                                                     | 1586.40                                                                                                     | 1664.80                                                                                                     | 1748.00                                                                                                     | 1836.00#                                                                                                    |
| Maharashtra | 3436.80                                                                                                     | 3608.80                                                                                                     | 3788.80                                                                                                     | 3978.40                                                                                                     | 4176.80                                                                                                     |

# Out of total Rs.1836.00 crore allocated,1 st installment of central share of Rs.688.40 crore is released for the FY 2025-26.

Under  NDRF,  State  of  Bihar  was  provided  Rs.1038.96  crore  and  Maharashtra received Rs. 1056.39 crore in the financial year 2021-22.

Department  of  Agriculture  and  Farmers  Welfare  is  mandated  to  monitor  and coordinate  relief  measures  in  the  wake  of  drought,  hailstorm,  pest  attack  and  cold wave/frost.  The Manual for Drought Management was published in the year 2009 by the Government for effective monitoring  and management of drought. To promote the use of modern technology, the Manual was revised / updated in December,2016.

- (c) & (d): As informed by the Government of Maharashtra, irregularities regarding misuse of login credentials of Tehsildar was observed for disbursement of relief funds during the year 2023-24.

A three-member inquiry committee was formed by Collector, Jalna. After investigating  2  talukas  in  Jalna  district,  committee  submitted  a  preliminary  report  to  the Collector, where, it was observed that the login credentials of the Tehsildar were misused. The State Government  of  Maharashtra had directed the Divisional Commissioner, Chhatrapati  Sambhajinagar  Division,  to  conduct  investigation  of  all  complaints  in  Jalna district.On  the  basis  of  report  submitted  to  the  collector  by  the  3  member  committee, headed  by  the  Deputy  Collector  (EGS),  21  Gram  Revenue  officers  (Talathis)/  Revenue Clerks have already been suspended and Departmental Enquiry has been initiated against 36  Gram  Revenue  officers  (Talathis),  17  Gram  Panchayat  Officers  (Gram  sevak)  and  2 Agriculture Assistants.

No complaints/irregularities have been reported by the State Government of Bihar.

- (e): As  per  provision  3.6  of  Drought  Manual,  the  State  Governments,  are  required  to ensure disbursement of agriculture input subsidy to affected farmers within one month from the date of receipt of Central assistance from the NDRF. The States are required to ensure use of various  instruments of Direct Benefit Transfer to beneficiaries  will  be  employed  to ensure efficiency and transparency in the process of fund transfer.

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