Allegations that drought-hit farmers in Kanagav, Pune district, were being charged Rs 200 for each 7/12 land record extract during the government relief process have prompted a demand for an independent inquiry into the role of local officials and others involved in collecting documents.
The allegation was raised by Ganesh Manohar Jagtap, a Daund member of the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat, who submitted an email complaint to Maharashtra’s revenue and agriculture ministers. Jagtap has sought an investigation by senior officials into the alleged collection and strict action if the charges are established.
The process for recording crop losses and completing documentation for government assistance is currently under way in the Kanagav area. Farmers are being asked to submit documents including a Farmer ID, 7/12 extract, Aadhaar card, PAN card and photographs of their crops.
According to the complaint, farmers were allegedly asked to pay Rs 200 for each 7/12 extract. Jagtap has sought clarification from the administration on the official order, if any, under which the money was being collected. He also alleged that farmers feared their applications could be rejected or relief withheld if they refused to pay.
The complaint further claimed that fear of losing government assistance had discouraged some farmers from coming forward. Jagtap has asked authorities to record the statements of affected farmers confidentially and ensure that they do not face pressure during the inquiry.
Jagtap also said he had a recording of a telephone conversation with a farmer connected to the matter and was prepared to submit the recording and other evidence to investigating officials. He called for the role of the talathi, agricultural assistant and other people involved in receiving documents to be examined. Any disciplinary action, he said, should follow if the allegations are proven.
The allegations have not been established through an official inquiry. Ajinkya Dudhane, the taluka agriculture officer, said that the taluka agriculture officer and deputy taluka agriculture officer visited Kanagav after receiving the complaint. Their visit found that the complainant was not a resident of Kanagav, according to Dudhane.
Dudhane said an explanation would be sought from the agricultural assistant who received the complaint. The official response did not confirm whether farmers had been asked to pay money for the relief-related documentation.
Jagtap has also appealed to farmers to contact the Pune office of the Anti-Corruption Bureau if any government employee demands a bribe. The next step identified by the agriculture department is to seek an explanation from the concerned agricultural assistant and examine the material submitted in relation to the complaint.
