JOIN USFarmers to get compensation, but only through bank accounts
Chamarajanagar, dhns: Finally, farmers of the district, who suffered crop loss due to deficit rainfall will get compensation this month, but only if they have bank accounts in nationalised banks.
The government has released Rs 17.62 crore as drought relief to the district
administration and has made it mandatory that the compensation amount should be remitted directly to the bank accounts of the farmers.
It may be mentioned that during the previous years, the affected farmers were disbursed compensation in the form of cheques and cash, leading to misuse of funds.
Now, in an effort to maintain transparency, the government has decided to remit compensation directly to the accounts of the farmers. As per the government’s guidelines, a compensation of Rs 6,800 is provided for 2.5 hectares. In all, 54,081 farmers of the district will be eligible to get the compensation.
Gundlupet and Chamarajanagar taluks had received good pre-monsoon rains and the farmers had sown groundnuts, cotton, maize, jowar, sunflower, sesame, ragi and other crops, hoping to reap good yield. But, the region failed to receive expected rainfall during monsoon. So, crops on 38,770 hectares of land withered. Agriculture and Revenue department officials, who conducted a survey estimated the loss at Rs 25.97 crore.
Following the report and the pressure exerted by farmers, the government declared Chamarajanagar, Gundlupet and Kollegal as drought-hit taluks.
Deputy Commissioner B Ramu held a meeting recently and directed the authorities concerned to make necessary preparations to disburse the compensation.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Ramu said, about 50 per cent of the farmers have accounts in nationalised banks while others have been advised to open new accounts. It has been decided to complete the process by January 25, he added.