Post News Network
Bhubaneswar: The state government Tuesday said more than Rs 7 crore has so far been disbursed to farmers in 14 drought-affected districts towards input subsidy. The statement comes in the backdrop of uproar by opposition parties over drought and the alleged suicide of farmers because of crop loss and debt burden.
“The state government has started the process of providing financial aid to drought-affected farmers and Rs 7.28 cr has been disbursed in 14 drought-hit districts,” said revenue and disaster management minister Bijayshree Routray.The minister said Rs 113.20 cr has been sanctioned for 21 districts, where a total 139 blocks are under the grip of drought.
The highest amount of Rs 4.12 crore agriculture input subsidy was distributed in the worst drought-affected district of Baragarh. This was followed by Bolangir district with the distribution of Rs 1.53 crore input subsidy among farmers. The lowest amount of Rs 2.40 lakh input subsidy was distributed in Kandhamal district.
Input subsidy of Rs 30.53 lakh was distributed in Kalahandi district, Rs 22.13 lakh in Sundargarh, Rs 17 lakh in Subarnapur, Rs 16.95 lakh in Sambalpur and Rs 16.53 lakh in Nuapada district. Input subsidy of Rs 14.81 lakh was distributed in Rayagada, Rs 12.81 lakh in Boudh, Rs 11.42 lakh in Nabarangpur, Rs 10.58 lakh in Nayagarha, Rs 3.85 lakh in Koraput and Rs 3.56 lakh in Anugul district, Routray informed.
No agriculture input subsidy has been distributed in Balasore, Cuttack, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Khurda, Mayurbhanj and Puri districts till date, according to sources.
The disbursal of input subsidy was started November 10. Around 70 farmers in the state have allegedly committed suicide because of crop failure and debt burden, sources said. While the state government has announced fresh finance up to Rs 4,500 crore, it has also announced a drought package of Rs 1,000 crore to help farmers deal with the situation.
