A week after meeting rain-affected farmers in Rae Bareli and Amethi, Congress president Sonia Gandhi has accused district authorities of laxity in carrying out assessment of damaged crops and asked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister to adequately compensate farmers.
Demanding immediate re-survey of damaged crops in all rain-affected districts, Ms. Gandhi, in her letter to Mr. Yadav, has said, “It has been brought to my notice that in its survey, the Rae Bareli district administration has said that only 10-15 per cent crop has been damaged....But during my visit to villages I had found that crops have suffered massive damage, which has led to livelihood crisis for these farmers. My assessment says condition of small and marginal farmers is very critical.”
Pointing out that majority of villages have been affected due to unseasonal rains and hailstorm, Ms. Gandhi said delay in providing compensation has brought lakhs of farmers on the verge of starvation, including those in her Parliamentary constituency of Rae Bareli. “As per norms, compensation is paid to a farmer when more than 50 per cent of his crop is damaged...I, therefore, urge the state government to re-conduct surveys in all affected villages and money is distributed in such a way that all affected farmers are adequately compensated,” she added.
Notably, last week Ms. Gandhi had visited Rae Bareli and also Lok Sabha constituency of Amethi that is represented by his son Rahul. She had met farmers who had apprised her of their plight and alleged discrepancies in carrying out the survey of damaged crops. The Congress president's letter comes at a time when there are reports of farmers committing suicide depressed over loss of crops and being in debt.
Meanwhile, the state unit of the Congress is gearing up to launching state-wide protests to raise farmers' issues, which includes poor compensation and land acquisition. Top state leaders would also take out “padyatras” in all districts in the run up to the Congress' mega farmers' rally in New Delhi on April 19. The Congress state in-charge Madhusudan Mistry and state chief Nirmal Khatri has held a meeting with state functionaries to chalk-out plans for the “padyatras” and to ensure the state unit’s maximum participation in the Delhi rally.
