Akola APL farmers' 5-month DCT subsidy stuck, govt urged to release funds

In Akola district, APL ration card holder farmers have been receiving 170 rupees per month per beneficiary under the Direct Cash Transfer (DCT) scheme since 2023, in place of subsidised grain. Funds worth 2 crore 33 lakh 13 thousand 535 rupees were distributed to beneficiaries in the district up to March. But since then, beneficiaries have been waiting for the amount for the past five months because the government has not released funds.

After drought-like conditions developed in the state, farmers from 14 drought-affected districts were included in the food security scheme. Under this scheme, farmer families were given rice at three rupees per kilogram and wheat at two rupees per kilogram, with a provision of a maximum of 25 kilograms of grain per family per month. This scheme, started to prevent farmer suicides, provided some relief to farmers facing financial distress. Later, instead of grain, a DBT scheme was started under which 170 rupees was deposited directly into the bank account of every beneficiary each month.

Currently, farmer card holders are being given the benefit of this scheme. But the financial condition of beneficiaries has worsened because funds have not been received for the past five months. Meanwhile, crops have suffered heavy losses due to lack of rain, pushing farmers into financial crisis. Beneficiary farmers are therefore demanding that the government release the pending DBT funds as soon as possible.

Akola District Supply Officer Ravindra Yennawar said that APL Kesari card holder farmers receive 170 rupees from the government per beneficiary through DBT instead of grain. He said the amount was given up to March, and a further 10 crore rupees has been sought from the government.