Govt finds irregularities in 6 KVKs

Government today said it has found some irregularities in the functioning of six Krishi Vigyan Kendras in Maharasthra, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
"As far as certain cases of alleged irregularities in the functioning of KVKs are concerned, some irregularities had come to the notice of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in the functioning of KVKs," Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said in the Lok Sabha.
There are 639 KVKs in the country. They serve as a single window mechanism for addressing the technology needs of farmers with a multidisciplinary approach.
The irregularities were found in six KVKs in Maharasthra, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, Singh said in a written reply.

Highlighting the details of irregularities, the Minister said a KVK in Nanded, Maharasthra had some administrative issues concerning use and maintenance of KVK infrastructure, holding of scientific advisory committee meetings regularly and made procedural lapses in maintenance of records.
He said that corrective measures were suggested to the KVK, which has now been followed.

At a KVK in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, complaints were received alleging irregularities related to ownership of land, recruitment of staff and functioning of the organisation.
"It was decided that KVKs under NGOs established with effect from January 31, 2005 will have to mortgage their land in favour of ICAR. However, the KVK Unnao was established in 1999 and there was no such clause in the MoU signed between the NGO managing the KVK and the ICAR. Therefore, the mortgage of land of the KVK cannot be enforced," Singh said.

Further, a committee has been set up to fill up all vacancies of KVK Unnao, he added.
As regards to KVK at Jamui district in Bihar, the Minister said, "There was a dispute regarding ownership of the land between the two related organisation and a committee was constituted for investigating the issue. Based on the recommendations of the committee, it has been decided to continue with the ownership of the KVK with the existing NGO Shrambharti Khadigram."
In case of a KVK in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, it was found that functioning has been affected due to dispute amongst the management of the host organisation which is sub-judice.

There were also complaints regarding irregularities at the KVK Thanjvaur and KVK Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu related to construction and unauthorised use of buildings, staff appointment, salary payment and diversion of funds.
"The matter has been investigated by a committee and the process of inquiry has been completed. The report is under examination," Singh said.
He added that new initiatives have been taken to modernise and strengthen KVKs.