BENGALURU: After much delay, the state government took a decisive step on Saturday by releasing Rs 105 crore from the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF), fulfilling its commitment to provide interim relief of Rs 2,000 for farmers who suffered crop losses due to drought.
“The disbursement of the relief will start Monday,” said a senior official of the revenue department. The much-awaited disbursement aims to provide immediate financial assistance to farmers grappling with the aftermath of drought-induced crop failures. The delay had raised concerns among the farming community.
Each farmer who suffered crop losses due to drought will get up to Rs 2,000 in the first instalment. This is being done as the union government has not yet released funds under the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF), the government order said.
Pegging the total losses due to drought at Rs 34,000 crore, the state government has sought Rs 18,177 crore in assistance from the centre under the NDRF. Chief minister Siddaramaiah and revenue minister Krishna Byregowda met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah in this connection last month.
Former CM Basavaraj Bommai slammed Siddaramaiah for releasing just Rs 105 crore. “This amount is not even 1% of the total estimated loss. It is nothing but alms. With this, how many farmers are going to get compensation? If the CM has any concern, he must compensate for the entire loss,” he said.
“The disbursement of the relief will start Monday,” said a senior official of the revenue department. The much-awaited disbursement aims to provide immediate financial assistance to farmers grappling with the aftermath of drought-induced crop failures. The delay had raised concerns among the farming community.
Each farmer who suffered crop losses due to drought will get up to Rs 2,000 in the first instalment. This is being done as the union government has not yet released funds under the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF), the government order said.
Pegging the total losses due to drought at Rs 34,000 crore, the state government has sought Rs 18,177 crore in assistance from the centre under the NDRF. Chief minister Siddaramaiah and revenue minister Krishna Byregowda met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah in this connection last month.
Former CM Basavaraj Bommai slammed Siddaramaiah for releasing just Rs 105 crore. “This amount is not even 1% of the total estimated loss. It is nothing but alms. With this, how many farmers are going to get compensation? If the CM has any concern, he must compensate for the entire loss,” he said.