In his remark on Digvijay Singh's hunger-strike, the Minister for Panchayats, Rural Development and in-charge of Guna district Gopal Bhargava said that it is another proof of his hypocrisy.
During his term as Chief Minister Digvijay Singh had not bothered to amend rates of relief under RBC and thought it fit to open fire on Multai's farmers. What right he has to find fault with the biggest relief campaign in the history of Madhya Pradesh.
He had 24 farmers killed and 150 injured in firing on them. He used repressive measures to deal with such demands. He had imposed 66 criminal cases on Multai's farmers. On the contrary, we have distributed Rs2,700 crore so far as relief against losses due to hailstorm and excessive rains in Madhya Pradesh during last fiscal. In Guna district alone, over Rs62.43 crore compensation has been distributed to 45,879 farmers of 517 villages.
Relief has not been given only to those farmers whose crops were not found to have suffered over 25 per cent loss in independent and special investigation. In Ruthiayi area in the district, all flood-affected persons have been given compensation as per eligibility.
As far as availability of soybean seeds is concerned, they are available in adequate quantity in Guna district. last year 15,309 quintal seeds were provided. This year, 19,350 quintal seeds is available in the district till date. So far, 15,350 quintal seeds have been distributed. Through special efforts, seeds have been made available to farmers by purchasing the same from National Seeds Corporation. About 15,000 quintal seeds are also being distributed separately by the corporation through its distribution centre in Guna.
There is no crisis of fertilisers in Guna district. Through cooperative societies, 1,408 MT fertilisers, urea, single super phosphate, DAP and murate potash have been distributed from storage cooperative societies. Cash sales are also being made from double lock of district distribution centre.