The West Bengal government is thinking of expanding the reach of its current compensation package for the Singur farmers who had not accepted cheques for their land so as to bring 2,000 more under the scheme.
At present, a compensation of Rs. 1,000 goes to 1,000 farmers.
The government gave this indication after Friday’s High Court verdict, which ruled that the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Act is unconstitutional.
“As per a government scheme, destitute farmers are given Rs. 1,000 as assistance per month. We are contemplating if nearly 3,000 farmers of Singur who did not receive compensation cheques and who are likely to be affected by the order can be brought under the scheme,” said Agriculture Minister Rabindranath Bhattacharya, who has been elected from the Singur constituency.
To challenge verdict
The State government, he said, would challenge the High Court order in the Supreme Court. “I hope that the farmers will not be frustrated as they have not been in the last six years.”
Alleging that the Opposition parties were trying to spread confusion over the issue in Singur, he said, “We will go there and convince the farmers.”
