Rajasthan: Kirodi Lal Meena Conducts In-Depth Review Meeting Following Nine-Month Break; Suspends Joint Director
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Synopsis
On April 7, Rajasthan Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena resumed activities with a detailed review meeting at Pant Krishi Bhawan, suspending Joint Director Gajanand Yadav for negligence over substandard agricultural minikits distributed to farmers.
Key Takeaways
- Kirodi Lal Meena resumes ministerial duties with a review meeting.
- Suspension of Gajanand Yadav for negligence involving fake agricultural products.
- Minikits distributed to farmers contained no active ingredients.
- Companies supplying substandard products under scrutiny.
- Investigations launched into irrigation scheme irregularities.
Jaipur, April 7 (NationPress) After a hiatus of nine months from his ministerial duties, Rajasthan Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena convened an extensive review meeting with departmental officials at Pant Krishi Bhawan on Monday.
From 11 a.m. until late evening, Kirodi examined the department's performance and issued stringent directives addressing negligence and irregularities.
The most notable action was the suspension of the former Joint Director of Quality Control, Gajanand Yadav, for his failure to take action against companies responsible for supplying counterfeit agricultural products in the free distribution of minikits.
Inspections revealed that these kits, intended for farmers, contained no active ingredients—essential components such as bio-fertilizers and micronutrients were completely missing.
An official stated that the Agriculture Minister mandated the suspension of Gajanand Yadav due to negligence concerning the irregularities in the free minikits distributed to farmers.
It was reported that the investigation uncovered a zero content issue in the bio-fertilizer, bioagent, and micronutrient minikits given to farmers, highlighting that the necessary fertilizers and bioagents were nonexistent.
The companies implicated in supplying these substandard minikits include Chem Biotech Reico Sarnadungar, Spectrum Agri Sciences Ringas, among others.
Despite the failed tests, no prior actions were taken against these companies, an official noted.
Additionally, Bharatpur Joint Horticulture Director Yogesh Kumar Sharma has been reassigned to Bikaner after being placed on awaited posting orders (APO) due to complaints regarding the non-payment of subsidies for beekeeping boxes, according to the official.
The Agriculture Minister also instructed actions against inspectors who failed to file legal cases concerning substandard fertilizers dating back to 2010–11.
Moreover, the minister ordered the cancellation of the agreement with Kshema General Insurance Company for allegedly defrauding insured farmers in Sriganganagar and Bundi under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
A state-level committee has been assigned to investigate irregularities in drip irrigation schemes in Sawai Madhopur and Jalore, the official added.
