JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla on Wednesday demanded a special package for compensation to paddy-growing farmers for damage caused to their crops due to rain and hailstorms in Jammu region.

While interacting with farmers during his visit to damaged crops, Bhalla said the farming community in RS Pura, Suchetgarh and Bishnah have to face unfavourable climatic conditions of rain and hailstorms and their crops got ruined. He demanded a special package for Basmati growing farmers so that their unfortunate loss could be recovered.

While listening to the grievances of the people Bhalla said, "The BJP government has no concern for the farmers and the same is clear from the fact that despite repeated representations and even direct talks with concerned officials, no effective steps have been ever taken to resolve the problems of the farmers."

He said the BJP rule witnessed massive protests, road blockades, dharnas by the farmers in large numbers in different parts of Jammu province. "But every time only hollow promises are made to pacify the agitating farmers. Whatever was committed or assured by the government was never fulfilled, which is a cruel joke to these people," he said.

According to the statement issued by JKPCC, the farmers expressed their anguish over the destruction of Basmati (Paddy crop) due to hailstorms and rains resulting in a 100% loss of ready produce. They said the government had promised to double their input costs of crops but the rates fixed for the purchase of paddy are less than their input cost. "The government has not provided any purchase centre in R S Pura and no government authority has visited to estimate the losses for compensation. There is great resentment amongst the farmers," the farmers, as per JKPCC, said.

The farmers appealed to the Lieutenant Governor that district authorities and other officers be directed to assess the damaged crop of the farmers and they be given appropriate compensation. They also stressed for loan waiver. 

The Congress leader said the farmers and orchardists have suffered immense loss to their crops and produce due to unprecedented and unseasonal rains, hailstorms and snow that have lashed the region. He said that the standing paddy crops, vegetables and fruits have been totally destroyed by the incessant rains and hailstorms in several areas. 

Bhalla demanded that the administration should wake up to the situation and immediately provide adequate ex-gratia relief before a total estimation of the losses suffered by the farmers is made. He said that the LG’s administration must send teams from the Revenue and Agriculture departments for loss assessment and recommend adequate compensation in favour of affected farmers.

“As the farmers have taken huge loans under the Kisan Credit Card scheme, the government should immediately assess the losses of farmers and fruit growers and announce a compensation package,” he said, adding that the government should also waive off loans under KCC of the farmers and fruit growers.

Source - http://risingkashmir.com