Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said that the Central Government stands by the hail-hit farmers in their hour of crisis. The Prime Minister has asked all States including Madhya Pradesh to provide immediate relief to the affected farmers and send survey report on crop damage to the Centre. He said that the Central Government will extend all possible assistance on the basis of the survey report.
Singh took stock of crop loss due to hailstorm at Khera Tanka village in Gwalior district and consoled farmers on Sunday. He was accompanied by Union Steel and Mines Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Expressing grief over extensive damage to crops by hailstorm, the Union Home Minister said that he has seen a natural calamity of such magnitude for the first time. He urged farmers to have patience and not to lose heart. At Khera Tanka village, Rajnath Singh inspected crop loss in the fields of Devendra, Ram Singh, Jagendra, Sukhlal, Kundan Singh, Bharat Singh, etc and consoled them.
Chief Minister Chouhan reiterated that there would be no lack of funds for providing relief to affected farmers. He said that apart from all types of relief under provisions of Revenue Book of Circulars, affected farmers will also be provided benefit of crop insurance scheme. For this, directives have been given to collectors to undertake crop cutting experiment. The Chief Minister said that the State Government had distributed Rs3,300 crore relief to natural calamity affected farmers last year. This year also, no stone will be left unturned to provide relief to affected farmers.
Chouhan said that the Government has suspended recovery of loans from affected farmers. Besides, interest will also be paid by the Government for one year. He said that the State Government will provide Rs25,000 for marriage of affected farmers’ daughters. They would not be bound to get their daughters married at mass marriage functions for this amount. He also reiterated that affected farmers will be provided wheat, rice and salt at Rs1 per kg and 4 litre kerosene and subsidised sugar. The Chief Minister urged the Union Home Minister to make efforts that Central Government relaxes FAQ norms in procurement of wheat since it would be a major relief for farmers.
Union Steel and Mines Minister Narendra Singh Chouhan assured every possible effort for Central assistance to Madhya Pradesh’s farmers. Tomar lauded State Government’s measures in favour of farmers. MlA Bharat Singh Kushwaha, ex-MlA Jawahar Singh Rawat, district Panchayat Vice-President Shanti Sharan Gautam and large number of farmers were present on the occasion.