Maharashtra announces relief package for hailstorm-hit farmers

* British-era system of calculating per acre crop yield to change
* Aid to dryland, irrigated land, and horticulture farmers increased
* Rs 2.50 lakh aid to kin of the farmers who commit suicide over crop loss due to hailstorm
* Interest on crop loan waived for three years’ period in which loan will be restructured
* 100 royalty waiver to brick kilns this time
* Thought to be given to raising separate fund for natural disasters
By Kartik Lokhande 
Responding quickly to the recent untimely rains and hailstorm that damaged crops on almost 1,00,000 hectares in the State, Maharashtra Government announced a fresh relief package for affected farmers. Eknath Khadse, Revenue Minister, announced the package in both the Houses of State Legislature on Tuesday after discussion on the issue.
The untimely rainfall in November and hailstorm a few days ago affected crops on 1,00,000 hectares in 893 villages spread over 32 tehsils of the State. The affected districts include Amravati, Nashik, Pune, Osmanabad, Sangli, Ahmednagar, Dhule, Satara, Jalgaon, Solapur, Raigad, and Nandurbar. Untimely rains and hailstorm damaged various crops including wheat, onion, grapes, pomegranate, mango, banana, cashewnut, maize etc. “Rains in November and hailstorm in December are results of climate change, and unwelcome changes in the season-cycle. To tide over this, we need to take short-term as well as long-term measures,” said Khadse.
Revenue Minister various decisions taken to provide relief to affected farmers. As per the decisions, the Government Resolution (GR) pertaining to drought-relief measures will be applicable to hailstorm-affected areas also. Among the affected farmers, dryland farmers will get an aid of Rs 10,000 per hectare. Previously, this aid was Rs 4,500 per hectare only. For irrigated-land farmers, the Government announced an aid of Rs 15,000 per hectare, which was Rs 9,000 per hectare previously. In case of horticulture crops including banana, aid of Rs 25,000 per hectare would be provided to affected farmers. Previously, this aid was restricted to Rs 12,000 per hectare. In case of paddy and other crops (oilseeds etc), the assistance would be Rs 7,500 per hectare and Rs 5,000 per hectare.
Further, if a farmer commits suicide following crop loss due to hailstorm, ex-gratia aid of Rs 1 lakh was provided to kin of the deceased. Khadse announced that in such cases, ex-gratia amount would be increased to Rs 1.50 lakh. For this time only, an additional assistance of Rs 1,00,000 would be provided from Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, he added. Thus, the kin of farmers, who end their lives following crop loss due to hailstorm, would get total ex-gratia of Rs 2.50 lakh.
A compensation of Rs 25,000 was announced to farmers who lost cattle in the hailstorm, untimely rainfall. In case of smaller animals, compensation of Rs 5,000 would be provided. For donkey, Rs 10,000 would be the compensation. Rs 3,500 would be provided as compensation in case of sheep and other animals. Further, damage to pucca house would be compensated with Rs 70,000 and that to kuchcha house with Rs 25,000. If there was damage to one-third of the house, the Government would provide an aid of Rs 15,000. Untimely rains had eroded fertile layer of soil and washed away soil in many farms, creating a bigger problem for farmers. In case of erosion of fertile layer of soil, Khadse said, financial assistance of Rs 20,000 per hectare would be provided. If entire soil was washed away from farm, the farmer concerned would get assistance of Rs 25,000 per hectare.
Referring to the demand of several MLAs to change the British-era system of calculation of ‘aanewari’ (per acre crop yield), Khadse said that the system would be changed by budget session of State Legislature. “Already, we have appointed a committee headed by bureaucrat Vikas Deshmukh. The committee is in the process of finalising its report. Before the budget session, the Government would examine the report and change aanewari system,” he said.
On the issue of crop insurance, Revenue Minister said that the Government was talking to Bajaj Agro, Reliance, and Tatas to work out a climate-based insurance scheme to provide protection to farmers. For the purpose, rain gauge stations were being set up in every village. As far as the issue of indemnity level for extending insurance benefits to farmers was concerned, insurance companies were not ready to increase it beyond 60 per cent. “Hence, we have sought help of Central Government,” he added. To make available ‘framing’ (shed) of entire farm and protect the crop from hailstorm, State had requested the Centre to reduce 40 per cent import duty on the ‘frame’ and help make it available to farmers at cheaper price. At present, it would cost Rs 6 lakh per hectare, he said. Khadse also announced 100 per cent royalty waiver for brick kilns for this time.
In response to suggestion of some members, Khadse said that the Goverrnment would give a thought to raising a separate fund to extend aid to farmers affected by natural disasters resulting out of climate changes. “The suggestion to raise Rs 5,000 crore separate fund is welcome. We will give it a thought,” he said. 

(16-12-14) 

Oppn stages walk out,
demands loan waiver

* Revenue Minister takes a dig at Opposition members
Staff Reporter
Coming down heavily on the Government for announcing an ‘inadequate’ package, the Opposition members in both the Houses of State Legislature staged a walk-out. Eknath Khadse, Revenue Minister, also hit back and took a dig at the Opposition parties.
In Legislative Assembly, senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal and Congress group leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil stressed that the Government should have increased financial assistance to the level of need of the affected farmers. Bhujbal said, “Farmers needed loan waiver and not an inadequate assistance.” In Legislative Council, Congress group leader Manikrao Thakre and NCP group leader Sunil Tatkare also flayed the Government for insufficient help. Both dubbed the package as ‘eyewash’. Raising slogans against the Government, the Opposition members in both the Houses staged a walk-out.
Khadse hit back at the Opposition parties -- Congress and NCP. “You are demanding loan waiver now, but financial health of the State is not sound, thanks to mismanagement during your rule,” he said. Further, he said that the erstwhile Goverrnment had kept financial assistance for farmers restricted to a paltry amount. “We have shown courage to increase the assistance in a big way despite the financial constraints. By budget session, our effort is to stabilise financial health and then we may think of providing some more relief to farmers, if necessary,” he said.

Guardian Ministers
to be appointed soon
During the debate on damage caused by untimely rainfall and hailstorm, several MLAs demanded appointment of Guardian Ministers for various districts. Responding to this in his reply, Eknath Khadse said that he had talked to the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in this regard. “Chief Minister has assured me that Guardian Ministers will be appointed during winter session,” he said in the Assembly.