Daijiworld Media Network - Bhandara
Bhandara, Jun 30: A Maharashtra farmer was left confused after receiving an SMS notification stating that only one paisa had been credited under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme instead of the expected Rs 2,000 instalment.
The Agriculture Department later clarified that the message was caused by a technical glitch and confirmed that the beneficiary had received the correct amount.
The beneficiary, 65-year-old Lakshmibai from Jevanala village in Bhandara district, received the unusual SMS earlier this week, leaving her family worried about whether the government assistance had reached her account.
Lakshmibai’s son Khemraj Girepunje said the family was surprised after the notification showed a credit of just Rs 0.01 under the PM-Kisan scheme. He added that they were depending on the instalment to purchase seeds and fertilisers for the ongoing kharif cultivation season.
Under the PM-Kisan scheme, eligible farmers receive financial assistance of Rs 6,000 annually, distributed in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 each.
The Maharashtra Agriculture Department clarified on Tuesday that the SMS did not reflect the actual bank transaction. Bhandara district agriculture officer Sangita Mane said the notification appeared to have been generated due to a technical issue.
She confirmed that official records showed Lakshmibai’s bank account had been credited with the full Rs 2,000 instalment and that the glitch was limited only to the payment alert message.
The incident comes at a crucial time for farmers across Maharashtra as they prepare for the kharif season and depend on financial assistance for agricultural expenses, including seeds, fertilisers and other inputs.
Officials said the payment was successfully transferred and assured that the incorrect SMS had not affected the actual disbursement of funds. The episode, however, highlighted the confusion that technical errors in digital payment notifications can create among beneficiaries awaiting government support.