Kolkata: To ensure that financial benefits are exclusively received by genuine and eligible farmers, the West Bengal government has initiated a comprehensive verification and rationalization exercise for all existing beneficiaries under the 'Krishak Bandhu (Natun)' scheme. The Agriculture Department issued a formal circular on July 3, 2026, outlining a rigorous scrutiny process to clean up the beneficiary database.

Key Objectives of the Verification Drive

The state government has observed widespread irregularities in the project, with reports suggesting that family members of government employees and ineligible individuals have been receiving benefits. Agriculture Minister Dudh Kumar Mondal stated, "Like some other welfare schemes, there have been widespread irregularities in the Krishak Bandhu project. Therefore, we are conducting a thorough scrutiny and verification."

Core Components of the Verification

The core components of this exercise include:

• Database Integration: Beneficiary records will be cross-referenced with the PM-KISAN database.
• Eligibility Filtering: Ineligible beneficiaries like government employees, pensioners, income tax payers, and those deceased or shifted will be flagged.
• Field Data Collection: Officials will collect and verify bank details, Aadhaar numbers, EPIC numbers, and ROR records.

Guidance for Farmers

Farmers are advised to monitor their status via the official portal, krishakbandhu.wb.gov.in. Those marked as "Under Enquiry" or "Pending" are undergoing re-verification. It is mandatory for farmers to ensure their bank accounts are Aadhaar-linked and DBT-enabled to prevent payment issues.