Farmers Must Pay Pending Taxes Before Getting Agricultural Assistance; Government’s Directive Sparks Outrage

On one hand, farmers are struggling to submit applications for agricultural assistance due to glitches in the online portal. On the other hand, the government’s latest directive has created a perception that farmers are being pressured unnecessarily. The Kalavad Taluka Panchayat of Jamnagar district has issued an order stating that farmers must first clear all pending taxes before they can receive benefits under the agricultural assistance package. This decision has angered farmers, who have accused the administration of high-handedness.

Fear That Many Farmers Will Miss Out on Assistance Despite Government Announcement

The state government has announced a ₹10,000-crore agricultural assistance package, but farmers are finding it extremely difficult to actually obtain the benefits. Several inconsistencies have raised questions. For example, farmers whose inheritance entries are not updated or those who hold joint ownership will see the benefit granted to only one account holder. Similarly, farmers who possess multiple land accounts will receive assistance for only one account, typically the one with the largest holding.

No Tax Payment, No Assistance — Farmers Furious

As per the directive, the farmer who registers the larger land parcel will receive the benefit. Amid these complications, the Kalavad Taluka Development Officer issued a circular stating that most villages in the area have not generated revenue this year and that pending taxes have not been collected even after three months. Therefore, if farmers come to collect agricultural assistance forms, officials must ensure pending taxes are recovered first.

Farmers allege that despite suffering heavy financial losses due to unseasonal rains, the administration is now harassing them under various pretexts, instead of supporting them during this difficult period.