“In government schemes, there is always 2-5 % corruption.”
This is not a statement by an opposition leader. It is a statement by the Agriculture minister of the BJP-led Mahayuti government in Maharashtra.
It all started when BJP MLA Suresh Dhas, during the recent winter session of the state assembly, had highlighted the issue of corruption in the Re 1 crop insurance scheme in Beed, Parbhani, Dharashiv and Nanded districts.
The allegations prompted the state agriculture commissioner to conduct a scrutiny of the applications.
The agriculture commissioner’s report found that more than 400,000 of the 16.8 million applications were bogus. His report recommended that the government discontinue the scheme.
Now, what is the 1 RS Insurance scheme?
Under the Re 1 insurance scheme, a farmer gets insurance cover for his crops by paying a premium of Re 1.
The state government pays the rest of the premium, and the farmer gets compensation if natural calamities damage his crop.
The crop insurance scheme was introduced in the 2023 budget by Devendra Fadnavis, then deputy chief minister and finance minister.
When the agriculture minister and NCP leader Manikrao Kokate was asked about the irregularities, he said: “It is true that as per reports, around 400,000 bogus applications were detected in a total of 16.8 million applications. In government schemes, there is always 2-5% corruption. But it does not mean that the scheme should be discontinued. Instead, the government needs to rectify the problems, and we have decided to take corrective measures through the use of technology to curb the bogus applications.”
Kokate further said that Common Services Centres (CSCs) got ₹40 per application for the insurance scheme, and thus, CSC employees had got involved in the bogus application scam. He said the government had initiated action against 96 CSCs across the state.
However, the minister asserted that no money had been lost as the government did not transfer funds into the bank accounts linked to bogus applications.
Kokate said instances of malpractice in the scheme have been identified in several aspects, including cases where mosques, temples, and vacant lands were falsely declared as agricultural lands to claim benefits.
“I have instructed district collectors to take immediate action,” he said.
The minister further said: “We have taken significant steps to address the irregularities.
To ensure transparency, farmers will be issued unique ID cards linked to Aadhaar. An updated database of farmers is being prepared, and significant reforms will be introduced in the scheme.”
Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole, speaking about an alleged crop insurance scam in Beed district, claimed insurance for barren land was fraudulently claimed, resulting in irregularities to the tune of Rs 350 crore.
The Congress leader accused insurance companies and the Mahayuti government of being hand in glove to exploit funds meant for farmers.
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“While farmers have not received compensation, the insurance companies have profited significantly by looting their funds,” Patole claimed.
What’s interesting is that a BJP MLA raised the issue of corruption in the scheme. The administration that probed the matter is led by the govt, and the minister of the govt has accepted that there is always 2-5 % corruption in goverment schemes.
Meanwhile, according to a report by TV 9, DCM Ajit Pawar has directed his ministers not to discuss policies; only the CM and the DCMs will discuss policy decisions.
Now, the question arises: If this news is correct, and ministers cannot speak about policies related to their department, then why have we distributed portfolios? Let the CM and DCMs handle all the departments.
It is noteworthy that while raising the issue, BJP MLA Suresh Dhas had directed his allegations towards Former Agriculture Minister Dhananjay Munde.
Earlier, Dhas had also demanded the resignation of Food, Civil Supplies minister Dhanajay Munde over his alleged link to the Beed sarpanch murder case.
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