Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan told the State Assembly that the loan recovery from farmers whose crops were damaged in the inclement weather recently, would be suspended. While replying to the discussion over the issue in the special day-long session of the State Assembly on Tuesday, Chouhan said that the short-term loans of the farmers would be converted into medium terms and till they get next crop, the interest would be borne by the State Government.
He further said the recovery of loans from farmers having suffered over 50 per cent crop loss and payment of power bill will be suspended to give relief to the farmers. A sum of Rs25,000 will be given to the farmers so that they could arrange marriage of their daughters. Regarding payment of power bills, he said that why farmers honestly paying the bill should suffer due to those irregular in paying the bills, he said, adding that benefits of crop insurance scheme would be ensured. He further said, “I will provide relief to affected farmers from state budget. Natural calamities are never invited. They just occur. Thanks to opposition members for expressing concern over crop loss. The debate on crop loss and relief to affected farmers is above politics.”
He further said irrigation has increased manifold from 7.5 lakh to 30 lakh hectare. The arrearage has also increased from 85 lakh hectare in 2003-04 to 107.11 lakh hectare in 2014-15. “We ensured water in every field upto the tail end. Nearly 4 lakh hectare area suffered crop loss in affected four lakh farmers. Major area remains unaffected despite severe calamity,” he said, adding that the State Government is with the affected farmers, who suffered heavy crop loss.
In the history, no State Government in the country ever distributed such a huge relief like Madhya Pradesh, which provided a relief to them to the tune of Rs2,600 crore for rabi and Rs600 crore for loss of soyabean crop. He alleged that Congress Government never gave relief to farmers in such hard times. Madhya Pradesh is the first State to have distributed crop insurance of Rs20,187 crore to 14 lakh farmers.
“We have made the practical parameters of ensuring insurance amount to the eligible farmers. I will approach the Government of India for making the farmer a unit of giving insurance amount by effecting requisite amendments. He observed that insurance companies collect premium from the farmers and when they are in need they return only premium amount,” he added.
He informed the house that earlier, there was no relief or pulse Tuar. We made it to Rs15,000 per hectare. We increased relief for crops from Rs500 per hectare to Rs15,000 per hectare. “For loss of irrigated crop the relief was Rs8,500 per hectare maximum. We increased it to Rs15,000 per hectare. Developmental works would be deferred to give relief to the farmers as development can stay, but not the farmers’ lives,” he said.
