An additional sum of about ₹30 crore has been sanctioned for the district to be disbursed as compensation to drought affected farmers under the crop insurance scheme, according to Collector K. Rajamani.
“I was recently informed by the Principal Secretary, Agriculture, that the second phase of compensation has been sanctioned and banks in the district will get the money in the next four days. The compensation will be credited to the bank accounts of the farmers soon,” Mr.Rajamani informed the farmers at the grievances meeting.
As many as 22,777 farmers had insured their crops in an area of about 47,010 acres under the Prime Minister’s Crop Insurance Scheme last year. In the first phase, ₹26.23 crore was sanctioned as compensation to drought affected farmers and so far ₹23.85 crore has been disbursed to the farmers concerned. The remaining sum could not be disbursed due to discrepancies in bank account details provided by farmers. In some cases, the money has been returned from the banks.
“However, steps were being taken to rectify the problem and credit the compensation to the farmers accounts at the earliest,” he said as some of the farmers representatives complained that the compensation has not been given to all the affected farmers.
N. Veerasekaran, coordinator, Ayyan Vaical Pasanatharar Sangam, said although the insurance scheme was being implemented well, there was a need for proper listing of notified crops and notified areas in consultation with farmers.
Mr. Rajamani also disclosed that so far 5.21 lakh cubic metres of silt have been removed from about 257 irrigation tanks and ponds by farmers under the special permission granted by the government.
The last date for filing applications for obtaining farm power connections under the Tatkal scheme has been extended up to September 6.
District Revenue Officer A. Basheer disclosed that special camps would be held at the divisional level to carry out corrections in pattas, in cases where there were no objections, during September following representations from farmers complaining of mistakes.
