Chief Minister Harish Rawat talked with Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh on phone and apprised him about the losses caused by unseasonable rain to the peasants and the relief provided by the State Government to them. He urged him to provide central aid for the farmers affected by the incessant rains.
On the request of Chief Minister Rawat, Union Agriculture Minister agreed on the issue of remittance of overdue from nationalised commercial banks till one year and assured that he would present the issue of exemption of interest for one year with positive approach in front of Union Finance Minister.
The State Government has taken austerity measures to make arrangement of funds for the rain-hit farmers. As he initiated that pulses, rice and chappati will be served in the feast organised by him except in the presence of external guests. The expenditure of refreshment would be reduced in the CM House. To provide relief to the suffering farmers, Rs5 crore additionally would be arranged by as much as possible savings from Chief Minister Relief Fund (CMRF).
Many decisions have been taken by the State to help the farmers and gardeners considering the damages on account of unseasonable rain and snowfall in the couple of days, informed the CM Rawat.
A fund of Rs25 crore has been approved for the purpose so that farmers can obtain the compensation at earliest. Within two days, Rs5 crore would be released for the Agriculture & Horticulture department separately.
If needed, additional fund would be arranged by the State. A decision has been taken in the past that co-operative loans would not be charged for the six months and interest for the aforesaid period would be paid by the State Government.
Irrigation & Revenue balance on the farmers would be exempted for 6 months from April 1 to September 30, 2015. The electricity surcharge would be borne by the State Government for aforesaid period.
The estimation of affected farmers has been done roughly and to ensure rapid relief to them is priority of the State, Seed of the turmeric and ginger would be available to the farmers on the grant of 75 per cent only this year as in normal conditions 50 per cent grant is imparted. Mini kit would be distributed free of cost to the farmers.
On the other hand, CM Rawat directed the officials to provide every possible relief/aid on the State level to the farmers. He said that other options than the previous ones can be considered to provide the relief to the farmers.
He directed the Additional Chief Secretary, School Education, S Raju and Secretary High Education to make available the information about the fees to be charged from the students of rural areas.
CM said that unnecessary Governmental expenditure to be lowered for the arrangement of adequate fund for this purpose. The Governmental aid to be lessened up to half for the six month for the fairs organised in various regions.
The Governmental aid to be lessened up to half for the six month for the fairs organised in various regions.