This Bachchan blew whistle for farmers in Barabanki

LUCKNOW: Defying the ‘What’s in a name’ proverb, an Amitabh Bachchan namesake in UP’s Barabanki district has forced the district administration to wake up to farmers’ problems in availing benefits of government schemes.
The residents of Jasmanda village of Nawabganj block had applied for Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojna, of which about 51 beneficiaries, including a local farmer named Amitabh Bachchan, were left due to a wrong computer entry.Under the scheme, Rs 6,000 in three instalments is to be provided to farmers.
“When Amitabh did not receive the part payment provided under the scheme despite having all relevant papers, it triggered rumours that superstar Amitabh Bachchan has been deprived of his due. But this Amitabh is definitely not the cinestar,” said Saraswati Tewari, a government official.
But confusion around the name of Amitabh Bachchan, the 28-year-old son of Harinam Gautam who works in the Gulf, aside, the problem faced by him and 50 others persists. “Amitabh’s did not get the benefit of the scheme because the name of our village has been wrongly entered in government records. However, he has lend a face to the plight of 50 others,” said Nirmala Kumari, the village head.
The controversy around the name has jolted the authorities. Saraswati probed Amitabh’s case and claimed that necessary paperwork to provide him relief is underway. “The error could have emerged during data entry which is being rectified,” she said.
District agriculture department officials, however, offered another version of the story.
“Amitabh did receive the first instalment of the amount, but in due course the name Amitabh Bachchan raised doubt. Those monitoring the scheme suspected genuineness of the name. Therefore, a re-verification was ordered. Now that everything is in place, his due instalment will be released in December,” Anil Kumar Sagar, deputy director agriculture, told reporters on Thursday.