Rs. 60.40 cr. relief sanctioned

To be distributed through agricultural cooperative societies

HELP AT LAST: Drought-hit farmers of Pudukottai district who have suffered more than 50 per cent crop loss to receive compensation.

The State government has sanctioned Rs. 60.40 crore to Pudukottai district for the provision of compensation to the drought-hit farmers of the district who suffered more than 50 per cent crop loss.

District Collector C. Manoharan on Friday handed over cheque to A. Tamilarasan, general manager, Pudukottai District Central Cooperative Bank, for disbursement to affected farmers through the primary agricultural cooperative societies functioning across the district.

A high-power committee comprising ministers and senior officials visited the district to asses the crop loss suffered by farmers of the non-delta districts and based on the recommendation of the committee, the government has sanctioned compensation.

Mr. Manoharan said in a release that the paddy raised on 1.21 lakh acres of land by 1, 57,446 farmers had suffered over 50 per cent damages because of drought. The list of the beneficiaries prepared by the Revenue Administration Commissioner was handed over, along with the cheque, to the general manager of the PDCCB.

The PDCCB will forward the money allotted to the respective villages to the primary agricultural cooperative societies on Saturday (May 4) and the compensation will be credited in the accounts of the beneficiaries on the same day.

The work of crediting the compensation in the accounts of the affected farmers will be carried out at a fast pace and will be completed by May 20, the release added.

K. Nagarajan, District Revenue Officer, was present.

Perambalur

The work of distribution of compensation to drought-hit farmers through 52 primary agricultural cooperative societies continued in various parts of the district for the second day on Friday.

The State government has sanctioned Rs. 60.79 crores to the district for paying compensation to 1.59 lakh affected farmers.

In a press release issued here, Darez Ahamed, District Collector, stated that the farmers need not present the computerised chitta copy at the primary agricultural cooperative societies for receiving the compensation. The village administration officers have already distributed photo affixed identity cards to all the beneficiaries and the compensation will be disbursed based on those cards.

The affected farmers could receive their identity cards from the VAOs and receive the compensation by presenting the same.