Rs 22.88 cr relief for Jind drought-hit farmers

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jind, January 28

The state government has released Rs 22.88 crore drought compensation for Jind farmers.

The government will pay compensation of Rs 4,500 an acre for paddy and cotton crop damage and Rs 3,500 an acre for other crops. As per current policy, farmers who suffered over 50 per cent loss due to crop damage would get compensation.

Earlier, farmers were compensated in different categories: 25-50 per cent damage, 50-75 per cent and 75-100 per cent. “Who will compensate farmers who suffered losses below 50 per cent?” said Phull Singh Sheokand, Akhil Bhartiya Kisan Sabha state vice-president.

As per joint initial estimates prepared by district administration last year, the drought affected paddy, cotton and other crops over 57,504 acres in the district. Farmers suffered losses of more than 50 per cent. In Safidon sub-division, paddy and cotton on 3,040 acres and other crops in 203 acres were affected.

In Julana area, paddy and cotton in 12,653 acres was affected. The maximum losses were in Jind sub-division as cotton and paddy in 39,468 acres were affected.

The Revenue Department has deposited the amount in a local bank and directed its officers to prepare individual reports of farmers’ losses and to distribute relief.

“We have received Rs 22.88 crore to be distributed as compensation. We have directed patwaris to prepare individual estimates of affected farmers so that compensation could be distributed at the earliest,” said Ami Chand Saini, Jind District Revenue Officer.