A representative image.
Credit: PTI Photo
New Delhi: Bidar Congress MP Sagar Khandre on Friday demanded that the Central Government to announce a relief package to help farmers who have suffered huge losses due to excessive rainfall and floods in North Karnataka this year.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, he said, “As per the existing Central Government rules, compensation is Rs 7,000 per acre for irrigated land and Rs 3,500 per acre for non-irrigated land. This amount is nowhere near sufficient for the farmers. The government must re-examine these norms and provide additional compensation.”
The State Government has already announced additional relief to the distressed farmers. The Central Government should similarly respond to the farmers’ crisis.
He said farmers have paid their crop insurance premiums on time under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, but the insurance claims are not being settled properly or in time. The Central Government must issue strict directions to ensure insurance amounts are paid without delay, he added.