Gwalior, 19 March 2015: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has directed for scientific assessment of losses to sugarcane crops due to hailstorm so that farmers can get maximum compensation. Chouhan visited village Pachaura in Gwalior district, Guliyapura in Datia district and Jaisingh Pura and Bijnipura in Guna district today. He was accompanied by Revenue Minister Rampal Singh, Public Health & Family Welfare Minister Dr. Narottam Mishra and MPs Bhagirath Prasad and Anoop Mishra.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that farmers affected by hailstorm will be given Rs. 25 thousand for marriage of daughter. This facility will continue till next crop. Chouhan was addressing hailstorm-affected farmers at village Gurawar in Shivpuri district today. He was accompanied by Revenue Minister Rampal Singh and Commerce & Industries Minister Yashodhara Raje Scindia.
The Chief Minister said that the state government has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with farmers whenever any calamity struck them. He said that crop insurance benefit worth Rs. 2127 crore has been made available to farmers. He said that farmers are in crisis again this time. The state government is standing by them to deal with situation. He said that loan recovery has been suspended from farmers whose over 50 percent crop has been affected. Till next crop, they would be provided wheat and rice at the rate of Re. one per kg. If a farmer has any objection about survey, then survey of his crop will be done again.
Soon after reaching village Gurawar, the Chief Minister took stock of crop loss in the fields of Devendra Singh and Tara Singh. He assured that full compensation will be given against damaged crops.
At village Pachaura, Chouhan inspected crop loss in the fields of Jarnal Singh, Nawal Singh, Ramwaran Singh, Ram Awtar, Braj Kishore Sharma and Jagdish Sharma. He told farmers that full arrangements will be made by state government to ensure that farmers face no crisis till next crop.
At village Guliyapura in Datia district, the Chief Minister inspected losses to crops of peas, wheat, mustards and sugarcane.
At village Jaisingh Pura in Chachoda tahasil and Bijnipura in Binaganj tahasil of Guna district, the Chief Minister visited farmers’ fields and took stock of crop loss. He asked farmers not to worry as entire government is with them. Their every worry will be removed by the state government.
The Chief Minister directed collectors to keep watch over survey. He said that 5 people of the village where survey will be undertaken will be involved in it, who will assist survey team. Later, objections raised regarding survey list pasted at Gram Panchayat building will also be disposed of by the villagers included in survey team.
The Chief Minister said that government’s top priority at present is to solve farmers’ problems in this hour of crisis. Referring to relief to affected farmers, he said that they would be given compensation of Rs. 15 thousand per hectare while Rs. 26 thousand per hectare relief will be given on loss of vegetable crops. He said that affected farmers’ short-term loans will be converted to medium-term ones and state government will also pay interest. He said that farmers will be provided loans at zero percent interest rate for next crop and they would not be considered defaulters.