JOIN USThe drought relief fund amounting to Rs 12.58 crore, which was released nine months ago to be distributed among thousands of farmers of the district who suffered crop loss, is yet to reach their hands.
The government had released Rs 21.41 crore in September 2012 for the crop loss faced by the ryots for the year 2011-12. Similarly, Rs 6.7 crore was released in 2013 February for the loss incurred in 2012-13.
In all, Rs 27.49 crore was released for distribution among drought-hit farmers, but till now only Rs 14.91 crore has been distributed, and Rs 12.58 crore is pending with the tahsildars of various taluks.
About Rs four crore was released for Mandya taluk for both the years and out of this only Rs 1.5 crore has been disbursed. In Maddur, only 2.3 crore has been distributed out of Rs four crore. Malavalli - Rs three crore of 5.5 crore has been disbursed; Srirangapatna taluk - Rs 95 lakh out of three crore has been disbursed; Pandavapura taluk - Rs 3.34 crore of Rs 3.5 crore has been distributed; KR Pet - Rs 1.41 crore of four crore has been distributed; Nagamangala Rs 2.41 crore of 3.57 cror has been distributed.
While farmers incur losses up to Rs 20,000 to 50,000 per acre, the government pays a meagre compensation of Rs 500 per acre. A majority are micro farmers, who have only one or two acres, and there instances of the government distributing Rs 250 as compensation amount per acre.
The amount fixed by the government was Rs 20 per gunta for the year 2011; Rs 30 per gunta in 2012. Mandya Tahsildar Mamatha said the compensation amount has been kept pending as farmers do not possess bank accounts, while many have given their lands on lease and have migrated to other cities.
Raitha Sangha District unit leader Konasale Narasaraju criticised the compensation amount fixed by the government.
While the crop loss is estimated at thousands of rupees, the government pays a maximum of Rs 1,000 per acre. Apart from this, the farmer has to possess bank account and has to visit the bank a number of times. The government should think about hiking the compensation amount, he added. Seven taluks of the district have been declared as drought hit since the past two years. The compensation amount should reach the farmers who are reeling under drought, he said.