Centre to start disbursal of aid to hailstorm-hit farmers soon

After complete assessment of crops which were battered by hailstorms last year in the state,Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said the Centre would start providing financial help to the affected farmers soon.
"The government has finished conducting the panchnama (assessment) of crops that were destroyed by the hailstorms in the month of December. The Centre will start disbursing aid within the next 2-3 days," Singh said.
The minister was speaking to reporters in Niphad in Nashik district, after taking a stock of the damage of Rabi crops caused by hailstorms and the recent unseasonal rains.
Singh, who was accompanied by the state Agriculture Minister Eknath Khadse, visited Sarole, Ranwad Road, Ugaav and Lasalgaon villages in Niphad taluka of Nashik and spoke to farmers to gauge the damage of their crops.

He also assured innovative implementation of Crop Insurance Scheme and also promised to give compensation at the earliest to hailstorm affected farmers.
Singh said that the government is in the process of doing the panchnama of crops affected by the recent unseasonal rains and it would be over by the end of this month.

"For now, we are still conducting the panchnama of the crops that have been battered by the unseasonal rains. This should be done by March 31. Soon after that, we will start disbursing the financial aid," Singh said.
The state government had on March 12 assured that a financial package for farmers affected by hailstorms and unseasonal rain would be ready before the current session of the assembly ends in the first week of April.

State Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse had assured the Legislative Assembly, while adding that a group insurance scheme was being planned to help the family of the farmers, who have committed suicide.