With around 12 lakh farmers in over 60 districts of Uttar Pradesh affected by the unseasonal rains and hailstorms, U.P. Revenue Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav has appealed to the Ministers, MLAs and MPs to donate their one month’s salary to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
Mr. Yadav said since the farmers have been badly affected by the unseasonal rains and hailstorm the people should be sensitive to their plight .
“Several districts have been declared as calamity hit and the State is doing its best to provide relief to the distressed farmers,” Mr. Yadav said on Saturday.
The survey to assess the damage to crops has continued, he added.
The Minister has directed the District Magistrates to ensure that insurance and bank officials along with officials from Agriculture and Revenue departments are included in the team assigned to assess the crop damage.
Blames Centre
The Minister blamed the Centre for going back on its assurance to provide financial assistance. While the State government has given Rs. 5 lakh each to the next of the kin of the farmers who have died in the natural calamity, the Centre’s share of Rs. 1.5 lakh was still being awaited, he said. He said Rs. 1,135 crore have been sent to the districts for relief measures of which Rs.439 crore had been distributed among the distressed farmers.
Mr. Yadav said last year the State government had demanded Rs. 365 core from the Centre, but only Rs. 32 crore was received till January 2015.
Meanwhile, following a fresh survey of damage to crops, 65 districts with 33 per cent crop loss have been declared as affected by calamity.
