Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Oct 25: A day after declaring that drought has hit 70 blocks across 15 districts, the state government Wednesday announced a special package for this year’s kharif season to help farmers.
The announcement was made on the basis of a report the government received from collectors which said the state had lost crops on 3.15 lakh hectares in 15 districts.
Making the announcement, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said that agricultural input subsidy will be provided to small and marginal farmers who suffered a crop loss of 33 per cent and above at the rate of Rs 6,800 per hectare in rain-fed areas and Rs 13,500 a hectare in areas having irrigation.
He said the short-term loans given to farmers in the affected areas which have suffered a crop loss of 33 per cent and above during kharif will be converted into medium-term loans.
“We will request the Centre to provide an interest incentive of 3 per cent for medium-term loans which is on par with that given to promptly paying farmers,” Patnaik said.
District administrations have been asked to keep a close watch on moneylenders and unscrupulous elements who may trouble farmers. The police have been instructed to take strong action against such elements under the Orissa Money Lenders Act and CrPC, he said.
The SPs will have the responsibility to proactively deal with it and DIGs will review the matter.
The CM said the collection of water charges in drought affected villages has been waived for the current year. Tuition and examination fees in government and aided schools and colleges will also be waived in drought hit areas, the chief minister said.
Assistance will be provided to actual cultivators, he said, adding that farmers affected by drought in the kharif season will be provided fresh finance for cultivation in the rabi season, which commenced from October 1.
Patnaik said 1.25 lakh pulse mini-kits, 0.5 lakh oilseed mini-kits and 0.25 lakh vegetable mini-kits will be supplied to farmers for the rabi programme in drought affected villages.
To help farmers, the state government would provide 5,000 pump sets at 50 per cent subsidy. This will be limited to Rs 15,000. The availability of pump sets in agro service centres will be publicised so that farmers can hire the equipment.
Orissa Lift Irrigation Corporation will take immediate steps to repair all lift irrigation (LI) points in affected villages on priority, and steps will be taken to operate all LI points during the rabi season. Steps would also be taken to energise all pending deep bore wells on priority, an official statement said.
Affected farmers will be provided employment under MGNREGA by the panchayati raj department to construct water harvesting structures, de-silt field canals, diversion weirs and others. The state government will provide 50 days of additional work in drought affected areas, Patnaik said.
Landless, marginal and small farmers in drought affected gram panchayats of the 70 blocks will be provided livelihood support like help to raise poultry.
“A fifty per cent remission on land revenue in drought affected areas will be given to farmers whose crop loss is 33 per cent. Collection of the remaining amount will be deferred to the next financial year and not interest will be levied,” Patnaik said.
Meanwhile, the government has announced a special package of Rs 134 crore to check illegal distress migration and human trafficking in Bolangir and Nuapada districts.
The package was announced for 30 gram panchayats of the two districts that have seen large scale distress migration in the recent past, Labour and Employment Minister Sushant Singh said after a review meeting at Bolangir Wednesday.
“The programme intends to stop the illegal migration of poor people to other states and abroad. Those vulnerable (likely to migrate) will be rehabilitated under the programme,” Singh said, adding that financial assistance would be given in phases.
Stating that Bolangir and Nuapada were adopted as model districts for the first phase of the programme, Singh said a blueprint was also prepared at the meeting to chart out a future course of action to stop the menace. “The programme would be taken to other districts if the first phase is successful,” said the minister.
