Congress alleges drought compensation in Chhattisgarh's red zone hasn't reached farmers

Kawasi Lakhma alleged serious corruption committed by compensation distribution officials in insurgency-hit villages - including Silger, Gondpalli and Kanhaiguda

The government has claimed that it has distributed compensation to drought-hit farmers in the Naxal-infested pockets of Chhattisgarh.

“The villages in the Sukma district, where the administration claimed to have distributed compensation, are a strong hold of Naxalites and even ration for people is stocked with great difficulties,” Congress legislator Kawasi Lakhma said on Friday in the state legislative assembly. How the compensation was disbursed in the pocket where governance has failed to reach, he asked.
 

Lakhma alleged serious corruption committed by the officials in the distribution of compensation to the farmers in the insurgency-hit villages — including Silger, Gondpalli and Kanhaiguda. The compensation was allegedly paid for crop failure in the area, following scanty rainfall in the last monsoon season.

 

“Even the village sarpanch had not been staying in the area,” he said, adding that under such condition, the distribution of compensation in the region was under the scanner. Also, heavy amount was distributed in the villages, located in inaccessible terrains, while lower amount was given in the villages located near the road side, he added.

The Congress legislator also sought the list of 51 forest villages that were declared drought-affected and compensation was paid. The state government did not have the list of villages.

The state’s revenue minister Premprakash Pandey said he did not have the list of villages at present and would provide it to the member later. The minister, however, refuted the allegation leveled by the Opposition member and said the compensation was distributed to the eligible farmer. He clarified that the compensation was not paid in cash and was directly transferred in the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.

The Congress members demanded a probe into the issue. The minister refused, resulting in an uproar in the House that ended with a walk-out staged by the Opposition members.

Pandey said there was no need for a probe and he would get the matter examined, whether the money transferred had reached the beneficiary.