Indian
Express: New
Delhi: Saturday, 30 August 2014.
The Ministry of Agriculture has begun a review of
the functioning of all 639 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in the country to detect and put an end to the
“mismanagement of public money” by these institutions.
At a meeting held over August 19-20 at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in Delhi, Minister
of State for Agriculture Sanjeev Balyan warned KVKs to improve their
functioning or face “consequences”.
KVKs were
envisaged as a mechanism to impart vocational training to practising farmers,
school dropouts, and other individuals involved in field-level agricultural
activities.
Beginning in 1974, when the first KVK was
established, these institutions are now spread over 600 districts, the largest number
68 being in Uttar Pradesh.
“I have
noticed a lot of mismanagement of public money in the KVKs run by NGOs as well
as the KVKs run by agricultural universities. Over the next two-three months we
will conduct a complete review of all KVKs and grade them according to their
performance. KVKs can help uplift ordinary farmers by contributing to the
expansion of technology, but I have found that many of them are not working
properly and misusing public money,” Balyan told The Indian Express.
Balyan’s
review this month was for 100 KVKs in tribal districts. Balyan said he would
calling such meetings of all other KVKs in batches over the next few months.
About 7 out
of every 10 KVKs are run by state and central agricultural universities. Around
100 KVKs are run by NGOs, including NGOs controlled by politicians.
Using
information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, The Indian
Express had reported in its edition of May 16, 2013 that proper procedure was
often overlooked in the allotment of KVKs, and that former agriculture minister
Sharad Pawar had personally intervened to recommend some NGOs which received
funds of up to Rs 1.5 crore per year.
The KVKs are
seen as a crucial instrument for fulfilling promises made by the NDA
government. At the meeting, Balyan reminded representatives of KVKs that Prime
Minister Narendra Modi had at an ICAR function last month noted that “until the
farmer does not receive the benefits of scientific and technological
developments, true progress will remain incomplete”, and that the farmer must
be made aware of the crucial importance of conserving water.
Balyan said
that the government could sanction more KVKs in districts that needed them, but
only after reviewing the performance of existing KVKs. He said delegates at
this month’s meeting had been told that employees hardly visited offices at
several KVKs. “I have asked that proper records of attendance be maintained,
and some of KVKs have started doing so,” Balyan said.