The scheme “Assistance to Scheduled Caste Farmers for Sinking Tubewell” was launched by the Department of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare, Union Territory of Puducherry. Through this scheme, the farmers from the Scheduled Caste Category are provided with a grant of 90% subsidy towards the construction of tubewell/filter point in Puducherry subject to a maximum of ₹1,80,000 per tubewell/filter point per individual.

Benefits

• Grant of 90% subsidy to General Farmers towards construction of tubewell/filter point in the Union Territory of Puducherry subject to a maximum of ₹1,80,000 per tubewell/filter point per individual.
• *The total cost incurred towards the construction of the tubewell shall be taken into account for the calculation of the subsidy.

Eligibility

• The applicant should belong to the Scheduled Caste Community.
• The applicant should be an Indian National and native of the Union Territory of Puducherry by birth or by continuous residence for the past 5 years.
• The applicant must obtain the necessary permit to sink a new/replacement tubewell/filter point from Pondicherry Ground Water Authority, Puducherry.
• The tubewell/Filter point should have been constructed through a departmental power rig/hand bore set or should have been constructed with a No Objection Certificate of the Agriculture Department for engaging private drilling machinery registered with Pondicherry Ground Water Authority under departmental supervision.
• The applicant should hold a minimum of 1.5 acres of land under the command area of the tubewell/filter point to be constructed.
• The applicant should have ownership of the land for at least 2 years and a clear ownership title deed in his/her name.
• The eligible land holding of 1.5 acres should be in favour of the applicant farmer, spouse, or a member of the joint/undivided family.
• Farmers who have already availed themselves of the subsidy for the same purpose within 5 years are not entitled to any benefit under this scheme.
• The casing pipes should have a BIS certificate and should have been purchased from an authorized dealer/M/s.PASIC Ltd.
• The applicant should not convert the lands for a minimum period of 10 years from the date of construction of the tubewell/filter point to any purpose other than agriculture.

Application Process

Offline
Online: https://edistrict.py.gov.in/

• Step 1: The applicant must obtain the mandatory PERMIT for the construction of a new / replacement tubewell from the Pondicherry Ground Water Authority, Puducherry.
• Step 2: The applicant of the Puducherry region should approach the concerned office towards the construction of the tubewell by deploying departmental machinery. The applicants who want to construct the tubewell through private machinery should approach the concerned office to get NOC.
• Step 3: After obtaining NOC, the farmer has to construct a tubewell by deploying private machinery which is registered with Pondicherry Ground Water Authority, Puducherry. Inspection will be conducted by the Agricultural Officer (Engg.) concerned at the time of the construction of the tubewell to ascertain the details of pipes and other materials used.
• Step 4: After successful completion of the tubewell/filter point construction work under departmental supervision, the interested applicant should visit (during office hours) the concerned office and request the hard copy of the prescribed format of the application form from the concerned authority:
  Puducherry: Office of the Hydrogeologist‐II, State Ground Water Unit & Soil Conservation, Thattanchavady, Puducherry‐9.
  Karaikal: Office of the Additional Director of Agriculture, Karaikal.
• Step 5: In the application form, fill in all the mandatory fields, paste the passport-sized photograph (signed across, if required), and attach copies of all the mandatory documents (self-attest, if required).
• Step 6: Submit the duly filled and signed application form and the documents to the aforementioned authority.
• Step 7: On receipt of the application, necessary entries will be made in the application receipt register and a unique seniority number will be assigned to the applicant for identifying each applicant which shall be used for all further references.

Documents Required

• Nationality, Nativity, and Caste certificate issued by an officer, not below the rank of Deputy Tahsildar.
• The certificate for land ownership issued by an officer, not below the rank of Deputy Tahsildar.
• A copy of the PERMIT obtained from the Pondicherry Ground Water Authority, Puducherry, for sinking a New/Replacement tubewell/filter point.
• The Registration Certificate for the tubewell/filter point, issued by Pondicherry Ground Water Authority, Puducherry.
• In the case of a new service connection, provide a copy of the energization letter obtained from the Pondicherry Ground Water Authority, Puducherry.
• If the tubewell/filter point was constructed using private machinery, submit (i) a copy of the NOC issued by the competent authority and (ii) a copy of the License for the private machinery issued by the Pondicherry Ground Water Authority, Puducherry.
• Original bills for the expenses incurred in the construction of the tubewell/filter point.
• Include a copy of the Aadhaar card, Farmers Identity Card, and the front page of the Bank passbook.

Assistance under SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act