Dismayed Fish Farmers bellowed for the release of the stipulated fund within 20 days to the State Government

ITANAGAR: The East Siang Farmers Welfare Association (ESSFWA) while addressing to the press today on 28th  September 2021, served 20 days ultimatum to release the pending funds under Pradhan Mantri Neel Kranti Abhiyan (MMNKA) schemes.

Why on the News?

The despondent farmers from the East Siang district expressed their grievances pertaining to the issue of Non-issuance of the deserved installment Funds under “PMNKA” viz Prashan Mantri Neel Kranti Abhiyan Schemes where it is also known as Chief Minister’s Blue Revolution 2019-21 (Mukhya Mantri Neel Kranti Abhiyan).

As per the direction and instruction of DFDO Pasighat, there are more than 20 listed beneficiaries who have commissioned a new fish pond measuring nearly about 1.5 hectares,1 hectare and half a hectare, that was commissioned in the year 2018.

what is the Story?

The representatives of the despondent farmers expressed that, "DFDO assured of releasing the 50% of the installment as a first subsidy in the new Financial year 2019, wherein the farmers related to this beneficiary who belonged to the modest & low incomed family had to take loans to achieve & continue their farming due to the governments fail to provide the Fund accordingly.

Considerably in the year 2019, the dismayed farmers tried to reach out to the DFDO  for the inquiry on the assured release of the Fund, wherein the DFDO was found unreachable and moreover, the imposition of covid restrictions thwarted the farmers for further steps. 

Later, the  DFDO assured to provide the 1st and 2ng  installment together in the next financial year after repeated moves and questions by the farmers on the arrival of the financial year 2019.

The dismayed farmers were assured with hope and understanding amidst the pandemic.

What is the Update now?

In the year 2020, a similar event occurred wherein the department didn’t bring out any update nor any notification pertaining to the re-assurance of the release of 1st and 2nd installments in the previous years, Meanwhile the assured farmers grew despondent and anguish, having no funds released through the DFDO  as per the assurance.

The immediate meeting was held by the farmers, wherein they unanimously decided to visit the Directorate office here In Itanagar, and it was surprising to know that the Fund had been released in the year 2019 itself.

However, the records from the Directorate office mentioned that, “due to the covid 19 pandemic the DFDO Pasighat couldn’t draw the bill and the hence the Fund had to be surrendered, during the year 2020-21 , a file was moved forward to re-allot the surrendered fund but the govt refused to re-allot the said fund"

The Association while addressing to the press  stated, "The authority in the Directorate Office stated, for the  requirements in the financial year 2021-22, the file shall be re-processed to the government for consideration"

Similarly, the Directorate office appealed the farmers to wait for another two months as the file had been processed to the HCM Pema Khandu.

However, the  Association bellowed "enough is enough" "we appeal to the state government to release the stipulated installment funds within the ultimatum of 20 days, wherein, having failed to comply the demands, the Association shall go ahead with a thunderous democratic movement".

“We need to economically develop our farmers” for the state to grow added the Association representatives.

"We have been to all the authorities responsible but are in vain. The percentage on which the farmers had taken the loans, is increasing; the mindset of farmers is on the verge of collapse" added the Association.

By Jon Pebi Tato, Mg.Editor, The SPACE Media

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