Union Minister Leads Push for Swift and Farmer-Centric Complaint Resolution

Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, chaired back-to-back high-level meetings at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi, to review operations across both ministries. A key focus was a detailed discussion on the agriculture complaint portal, attended by senior officials including Agriculture Secretary Shri Devesh Chaturvedi.

Key Complaint Categories and Ongoing Resolutions

Officials highlighted complaints spanning fertilisers, seeds, pesticides, PM Fasal Bima Yojana (Crop Insurance Scheme), and the PM Kisan Portal. Primary issues include fertiliser shortages, inflated prices, substandard seeds, and improper Nano Urea labelling. These are being systematically categorised and addressed.

In pesticides, 150 complaints were reviewed: 120 resolved, FIRs filed in 11 counterfeit cases, licences revoked for 8 companies, and compensation provided to farmers in 24 instances. Authorities affirmed serious efforts to tackle all grievances promptly.

Minister’s Directives for Enhanced Accountability

Shri Chouhan stressed:

  • Single Platform for All Agri Complaints: “There should be a single platform for all complaints related to the agriculture sector.”
  • Farmer Satisfaction Paramount: “Action on a complaint should not be closed until the farmer is completely satisfied.” Post-resolution, officials must verify satisfaction via direct calls; unresolved dissatisfaction triggers re-investigation.
  • Timelines and Monitoring: Strict deadlines for resolutions to prevent delays.
  • State-Wise Scrutiny: “States where action is slow and complaints are higher will be identified.” High-complaint, slow-response states to be listed for targeted feedback in future meetings.
  • Recognition for Excellence: “States and employees providing better resolution of farmers’ complaints deserve appreciation.” Top performers to receive certificates to boost nationwide efficiency.
  • Direct Ministerial Intervention: For grave complaints, the Ministry will step in directly. Discussions also covered appointing state nodal officers to gather daily feedback on 10 complaints per officer.

These measures aim to build a responsive ecosystem ensuring farmers’ voices are heard and acted upon effectively.