Harvestors In Gravy

Tamil Nadu’s bureaucracy is infamous for its endemic corruption. But what unfolded during August set new benchmarks for looting public money—funds  meant for small/marginal farmers through Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s well-inten­ded PM Kisan Scheme.

Taking opportunity of the pandemic, when physical verification of beneficiaries was not possible, state agricultural department officials enrolled over five lakh fake beneficiaries—mostly non-­farmers—and deposited Rs 2,000 each in their bank accounts. The money was shared amongst the officials, contracted data entry operators, owners of internet centres and unsuspecting villagers.