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Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Saturday that he will conduct a review of calamity relief fund (CRF) and is positive to increase the compensation amounts offered to thee farmers as the result of the recent rains and the natural calamities in the country.
Jaitley was recently interrogated about Haryana farmers protesting against the poor compensations paid to them on account of the crop damages sue to the recent hailstorms.
He said, “I am in the process of reviewing these (compensation) norms. Personally I am in favour of significantly increasing the compensation for crop damages and we will soon raise the compensation amount.”
The recent hailstorms and unseasonal rains resulted in the damage of about 106.73 lakh hectares of land across 14 states.
It is estimated for the Government to declare another 10-20 lakh hectares of farmland affected due to the rains this week.
At present, the state government is allowed to provide assistance to farmers at the rate of Rs.4,500 per hectare for rain fed areas and Rs. 9,000 per hectare for irrigated areas and Rs.12,000 per hectare for perennial crops.
It is however said that the present compensation may not be sufficient to meet the loss of small and marginal farmers.
The recent Modi government’s running theme at the executive meeting was “Pro-farmer”, Jaitley was very affirmative and positive saying that he would take up the issue of increasing the compensation to the farmers at the earliest.
He was also very clear, inducible and wasted no time answering the question on the compensation to the farmers.
