Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that the Central Government should sanction immediate special package for relief to affected farmers and send study team by March 6 to assess crop loss in the State.
Chouhan was addressing affected farmers after inspecting hailstorm-affected crops in villages in Seoni district on Tuesday. Farmers Welfare and Agriculutre Development Minister Gaurishankar Bisen was also present on the occasion.
The Chief Minister said that hailstorm has shaken farmers. Major calamity has hit farmers’ families by damage to crops. He informed farmers that State Government will leave no stone unturned in providing them relief.
He said that Government is giving top priority to relief to farmers and it will be distributed to them liberally. The Chief Minister informed that before coming to hailstorm-affected village Kandipar, he has provisioned Rs 2000 core in vote on account so that immediate relief can be given to farmers. He informed that provision has been made to give ex-gratia of Rs 1.50 lakh on death of a person, Rs 16,500 on loss of cow-bullock, Rs 40 on poultry, Rs 1650 on goat while compensation will also be given to villagers against damage to roof tiles and potters on damage to pottery.
The Chief Minister has also demanded from the Centre that Madhya Pradesh should be accorded status of the state producing good Basmati. Chouhan said that the Central government is discriminating against Madhya Pradesh in this regard. Farmers are not getting proper price for gram since Central Government imposed export fee on it and is not abolishing duty on dram imports. He urged the Central Government to ensure procurement of gram from farmers on support price.
The Chief Minister visited village Kandipar in Seoni district to inspect damaged crop of tribal farmer Ram Bharose. His entire crop has been affected. Chouhan assured Ram Bharose that government will provide full compensation against his damaged crop.