Despite significant evidence of large-scale fraud in the disbursement of funds under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme, the Manipur Agriculture Department has not taken substantial legal action to recover ₹65.49 crore erroneously allocated to ineligible beneficiaries. This inaction is highlighted by audits and Right to Information (RTI) proceedings that reveal deep systemic manipulation and collusion by departmental insiders who authorized registrations without proper verification.
The initial exposure of these irregularities occurred in an audit conducted by the Principal Accountant General (Audit), Manipur, which uncovered numerous violations, such as unauthorized payments, enrollment of ineligible individuals, and benefits incorrectly awarded to income tax payers. The audit report, published for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, indicated that 1,91,244 of the 5,92,290 beneficiaries between November 2019 and February 2021 were approved using the State Nodal Officer’s credentials, without retaining essential verification documents like Jamabandi land records, Aadhaar cards, or bank passbooks, which are required by the scheme’s guidelines.
An RTI inquiry revealed a list of 2,31,225 ineligible beneficiaries, with the largest numbers concentrated in Thoubal (75,571) and Kakching (39,761). During an information commission hearing, a Nodal Officer admitted that notices had been sent to suspected fraudulent beneficiaries demanding eligibility documentation; however, it was revealed that the genuine count of PM-KISAN beneficiaries has dramatically decreased to under 50,000 from the previously reported 5,92,290, underscoring the extent of fraudulent activity.
On June 5, 2024, a circular was issued instructing ineligible beneficiaries to refund the disbursed funds by August 10, 2025, with threats of legal consequences for noncompliance. Yet, despite this directive, there has been no meaningful legal action against the errant beneficiaries or the officials who permitted their fraudulent registrations. Furthermore, there is no evidence of any refunds made or attempts by the ineligible beneficiaries to return the funds.
Critically, the circular primarily targets the beneficiaries, neglecting to hold accountable the officials who facilitated the fraudulent registrations, indicating a protective stance towards the department’s personnel rather than pursuing accountability. Given the scale of ₹65.04 crore misappropriated, this situation reflects a profound systemic failure facilitated by individuals within the agricultural department itself, rather than mere administrative oversight.