High Court Question on Agricultural Supplies Purchase Policy Change Minister Dhananjay Munde Problem Increased Nagpur : There is A strong possibility that the problems of the Cabinet minister and then Agriculture minister Dhananjay Munde, who was already in trouble, will increase further. The DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) scheme launched by the State Government in 2016 was changed in 2023. The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has Asked the State Government "why this change was made." The bench of Justice Vrushali Joshi has ordered the state government to submit its reply within two weeks. Purchase of agricultural materials under the DBT scheme launched in 2016 was stopped. After that, the Ministry of Agriculture itself purchased battery-operated spray pumps and agricultural materials at high prices, it has been claimed in the petition. When the DBT scheme was in effect, farmers used to get subsidies while purchasing agricultural materials. But after the government decision of 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture decided to purchase agricultural materials itself. The petition has alleged that the Ministry of Agriculture purchased agricultural materials at a rate of one thousand more than the market price. While hearing this petition, the court has asked the state government why there was A need to change the DBT policy. The then Agriculture Minister Dhananjay Munde stopped the direct subsidy scheme in the farmers' accounts and decided to purchase agricultural materials from the government. For this, the state government approved a fund of Rs 103 crore 95 lakh. According to the government circular dated March 12, 2024, a fund of Rs 80 crore 99 lakh was approved for the purchase of battery-powered spray pumps for farmers. However, the government purchased 3 lakh 3 thousand 507 spray pumps for Rs 104 crore. The petitioner has made a serious allegation in the petition that the Ministry of Agriculture purchased a spray pump worth Rs 2650 at an exorbitant price, i.e. Rs 3425. Byte Name : Ad Shantanu Ghate, Petitioner's Lawyer
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NewsTranscript
00:00The first scheme that the government took out of Janai Tiyachi was to deposit all the
00:07agricultural equipment in the account of all the farmers in Lahore.
00:13After taking the money in their account, it was directly deposited there.
00:19After that, from 2016 to 2023, the G.R.S. changed drastically and the government
00:26imposed a price of Rs. 3625 for the spray pump for the remaining Rs. 103 crores.
00:33When the government was available with Rs. 2600, the farmers were able to use the
00:40spray pump for the purpose of spending money.
00:45The government was able to increase the price of the spray pump from Rs.
00:523625 to Rs. 13,000.
00:55The government decided to increase the price of the spray pump from Rs.
01:013625 to Rs. 13,000 and to sell it at a higher price in the market.
01:07I challenged the G.R.S. on 23rd October, 2024.
01:11I challenged the G.R.S. on 23rd October, 2024.
01:15I challenged the G.R.S. on 23rd October, 2024.
01:20I challenged the G.R.S. on 23rd October, 2024.
01:24The government has asked the state government to give the details of the decisions taken
01:31on the basis of which on 31 January.
01:36There are other things like insecticides.
01:40The difference is of Rs. 1000.
01:43Rs. 1000 is more.
01:46In the market, the spray pump costs Rs. 26.
01:52But the government has charged Rs. 3600 for it.
01:56How much has been spent?
01:59At least Rs. 103 crore has been spent.
02:02At least Rs. 50 crore has been misappropriated by the government.
02:08Another important thing is that the commissioner of the Agricultural Department
02:16had written a note stating that the spray pump and other equipment
02:22should not be sold at this cost.
02:25The state government has given a note stating this.
02:33Prior to this, the government had charged Rs. 1500 for the spray pump.
02:39Now, the government has charged Rs. 3600 for the spray pump.
02:49This is a serious matter.
02:52The government should not misappropriate the money.
02:58The order has been passed.