Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday announced compensation of Rs 1,092 crore to farmers affected by inclement weather conditions, to be disbursed by May 15.
Noting the huge crop loss due to adverse weather conditions, he said the government has decided on compensation of Rs 1,092 crore to be disbursed by May 15.
Of the total amount, Rs 720 crore will be provided by the Centre while rest will be provided by the state government, he said.
The Chief Minister slammed the previous Congress-led state government for “unwarranted delay†and paying “paltry†sum of compensation to farmers for their damaged crops.
“How insensitive the previous state government was to farmers’ problems could be gauged from the amount of compensation paid as it was not the first time natural calamity wrecked havoc in the state,†he said.
Mr. Khattar alleged that just Rs 18 crore was disbursed among farmers in year 2011-12 followed by Rs 47 crore in 2012-13 and Rs 95 crore in 2013-14.
“In 2014-15, Rs 243 crore was given to farmers after we (BJP) came to power. We released Rs 22 crore for crop loss in September 2013 and Rs 97 crore for the loss in March 2014 after coming to power.
“There had been delay of two years in disbursing compensation amount to affected farmers,†he said.
“During previous regime, compensation amount was not released even by concerned Deputy Commissioners. So you can very well imagine what would have been the kind of governance at that time,†he told reporters here.
The Chief Minister further said that farmers used to get a paltry sum of compensation of various amounts ranging form Rs 10 to Rs 1,000 during the Congress rule.
The Haryana government in its special girdawari report till April 22, has assessed crop damage to over 13 lakh acres in the state because of untimely rains and hailstorm.
Out of which, 3.17 lakh acres was hit with crop loss between 76 to 100 per cent, 1.92 lakh acres with crop loss between 51 to 75 per cent and 8.24 lakh acres between 25 and 50 per cent.
“Administrative machinery will be deployed to ensure rain—hit farmers get their due compensation by May 15,†Mr. Khattar said.
In a veiled dig at Punjab, the Haryana Chief Minister compared steps taken by his government and those by neighbouring states in providing relief to rain—hit farmers.
“We took so many steps in the interest of our affected farmers. Look at the condition of farmers in neighbouring states,†he said, however adding that he did not want to blame any state.
Mr. Khattar welcomed the comments of Congress leader Manish Tewari who on April 26 in Ludhiana had appreciated the steps taken by Haryana government in the interest of farmers.
“Haryana has managed to get 100 per cent relaxation for procurement in terms of colour and moisture, while no such relief has been given to Punjabi farmers,†Mr. Tewari had said.
Asked to comment on giving compensation to families of farmers who had allegedly committed suicide because of crop loss, Mr. Khattar said that it was very difficult to find out the actual reasons behind anyone taking the extreme step.
“It is always painful if somebody dies. It is difficult to know the reasons of one committing suicide which may be because of old debt, poor financial condition,†he said.
The Chief Minister said the state is committed to purchase every grain of farmer, adding that growers will get full MSP of their crop despite value cut imposed by the Centre.
He also hoped that state would achieve 65 lakh tonne of wheat procurement target for current rabi marketing season with 49.52 lakh tonne being lifted by state procurement agencies so far.
He further said that Rs 500 crore will be released to cooperative sugar mills for making payment to cane growers.