Din in Chg House over disbursal of aid to drought-hit farmers

The actual distribution of compensation and crop insurance to drought-hit farmers rocked the Legislative Assembly today with the main opposition Congress cornering the BJP government on the issue.
The matter was raised during Question Hour by Congress MLA Dhanendra Sahu through a starred question.
Sahu asked Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal to give the exact number of farmers who have been covered under the Crop Insurance Scheme during Kharif 2016 and the number of districts covered under it.
"How much amount of premium was deposited by farmers under crop insurance and how much by the government," Sahu questioned.
Replying to the queries, the minister said that 2,176 hectares of land had been insured and premium was charged at the rate of Rs 1,000 per acre.

He added 75 per cent of premium was paid by farmers while 20 per cent was paid bythestategovernment and rest by Central government.

"Payment of about Rs 500 crore is pending for disbursement to farmers against crop damage under the crop insurance policy and it is likely to be distributed by the insurance companies in next two months," Agrawal said.
However, Sahu questioned the assessment made by the government on total crop damage as the actual survey report of crop loss is yet to be released.
To this, Agrawal replied that under provisions of Rule 6-4 of Revenue Circular Book, compensation is being provided for non-irrigated and irrigated land to farmers under the drought-relief measures.

Interrupting him, Sahu said how can Patwaris have submitted the survey report without physically assessing the actual crop damage.
To this, the minister said the 'Crop Anewari (estimate) Report' doesn't have any role to play as the government, under modified Rule 6-4 RBC, has taken farmer as a unit forcrop loss assessment.
However, senior Congress MLA and party's state unit chief
Bhupesh Baghel said that government has distributed only Rs 450 crore out of Rs 1,200 crore allotted by Central government for drought relief measures.
Baghel accused the government of deliberately withholding the actual report.
The Congress members then asked the government to prove that actual survey of crop damage due to drought has been undertaken even in a single village.

However, Agrawal maintained that his government is committed to the cause of farmers and every farmer in drought-affected areas is being given compensation as per the revised norms.
Not satisfied with the reply, Congress members created uproar by shouting slogans and staged walkout for some time.