Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that the state government is a farmer friendly government. The government stands with the farmers in every crisis, either it a natural calamity or a crisis like floods.
It is never too late to provide the relief to the farmers after the damage to their crops. Even today, an amount of Rs 202.90 crore has been transferred to the account of one lakh 46 thousand 101 farmers for the damage caused to the crops of farmers in 26 districts of the state due to hailstorm in the month of January. In the last nearly two years, a total of about Rs 1.75 lakh crore has been given to farmers under Kisan Samman Nidhi, zero percent interest loan and all other farmer-welfare schemes.
Chouhan was addressing the farmers through video conference today after transferring the relief amount from his residence. Principal Secretary to Chief Minister and Revenue Department Manish Rastogi and Revenue Secretary Sanjay Goyal were also present.
The Chief Minister said that after the loss of crop due to hailstorm last month, survey work was done within time-limit with the cooperation of Revenue Department, District Administration and other departments. The list of affected farmers in the villages was prepared and displayed publicly. Arrangements were made to give relief amount to each affected farmer. For all these works, all concerned officers-employees, public representatives, farmers and social workers deserve to be congratulated. Madhya Pradesh government will always stand with the farmer in his good and bad times. It is the responsibility of the government to encourage all sections including farmers by giving them necessary help on need. No stone will be left unturned in this.
Chouhan said that crops in one lakh 34 thousand 19 hectare area were damaged due to hailstorm and untimely rains in 1074 villages of the state. The affected districts are Raisen, Rajgarh, Vidisha, Bhind, Gwalior, Ashoknagar, Shivpuri, Datia, Guna, Dhar, Jhabua, Balaghat, Chhindwara, Mandla, Seoni, Betul, Harda, Satna, Sagar, Tikamgarh, Niwari, Ujjain, Mandsaur, Neemuch, Ratlam and Khandwa. The work of giving district-wise relief funds to the affected was done on priority.
Chouhan said that we have celebrated the birth anniversary of Sant Ravidas ji on Wednesday. We remember his verses, in which he has said – “Aisa Chahun raaj mein, jahan mile saban ko anna, chhota badon sab sam basai, Ravidas rahe sada prasanna.” Chief Minister Chouhan said that there should be such a state in which food is available to every human being. The state government is working in this direction, benefiting everyone, so that everyone should get food without discrimination. Food grains are also being distributed to about 5 crore families in the state.
Chouhan said that when there was untimely rain and hailstorm, it was felt that the hail did not fall on the earth or on the fields but on us. Such incidents are disturbing. The work of taking stock of the damage and survey was done immediately in the affected areas to provide relief to the farmers. Survey work was also done seriously. Farmers were also satisfied with this process. Last week, insurance amount has also been deposited in the accounts of more than 45 lakh farmers for Kharif 2020 and Rabi 2021. Out of the total crop insurance claim amount of Rs 7 thousand 669 crore, an amount of Rs 5 thousand 660 crore has been paid so far. The amount paid today is Rs one thousand 665 crores. The balance amount of Rs 844 crore is also being paid in the next two days. Farmers need not worry. Work will be done with the same promptness for the benefit of farmers.
Farmers were provided adequate relief even in Corona period
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that Corona had struck about two years ago. In the first and second wave, the state government paid farmers by making a record procurement of wheat and paddy and providing them relief. In the first wave, one crore 29 lakh 42 thousand metric tonnes of wheat was procured despite adverse conditions. In the second wave, again one crore 28 lakh 15 thousand metric tonnes of wheat as well as 45 lakh 85 thousand metric tonnes of paddy were procured while taking measures to prevent infection. Wheat was purchased from 17 lakh 16 thousand farmers and paddy from 6 lakh 61 thousand farmers of the state. The farmers were paid the amount of the acquired food grains on priority. The farmers got direct relief due to timely payment of amount during the Corona period.