Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Wednesday announced package for people affected by cyclone Titli and subsequent floods.
Emerging from a review meeting on relief measures to people hit by the cyclone, Patnaik said he has instructed various departments to ensure the succour reaches even small and marginal farmers in the state.
“Agriculture input subsidy will be provided to small and marginal farmers who have sustained crop loss of 33 per cent and above. Relief of Rs 6,800 per hectare will be given in rainfed/non-irrigated areas, Rs 13,500 per ha of land in areas under assured irrigation,” Chief Secretary AP Padhi told reporters after the review meeting.
Compensation of Rs18,000 per hectare will be given for perennial crops like mango, cashew, coconut, Kewra and betel vine. The aid will be provided to genuine cultivators and not the land owners, he said.
The agriculture department will distribute two lakh mini seed kits to the Titili affected farmers during Rabi 2018-19.
Special assistance will be provided to farmers who have lost sugarcane, roots, tuber and mushroom crops. The package includes 1000 pump sets with 50 per cent subsidy (maximum Rs 15,000) and 1,000 pump sets under Saura Jalanidhi scheme for the affected farmers.
As per the package, short-term Kharif loans would be advanced in the affected areas this year to farmers who have suffered a loss of 33 per cent or more. Short-term loans will be converted to medium term loans. The deadline to sanction short-term Kharif loan has been extended up to September 30.
The government has also announced compensation to farmers who have lost livestock. Compensation of Rs 30,000 per milch cow and buffalo (up to three animals), Rs 25,000 for draught animal (up to three), Rs 16,000 for calves (up to six), Rs 3,000 per goat (up to 30 animals), Rs 50 per bird (maximum Rs 5,000) will be given in the Titli affected districts.
As many as 20,000 farmers will get restoration amount for cowsheds and goat sheds while 75 per cent subsidy will be given to 1,000 farmers to help them with 10 goats and one duck at a cost of Rs 66,000, said the government.
The government will provide assistance of Rs 1.125 lakh per hectare to fish farmers who have lost ponds, Rs 22,500 per boat and Rs 15,000 per net for the Titli-affected farmers. For marine and Chilka fishermen, the assistance is Rs 60,000 per boat and Rs 15,000 per net.
Under the handicrafts and handloom sector, an assistance of Rs 4100 will be given to artisan for replacement of tools/equipment and Rs 4,100 per artisan for loss of raw material/goods in process or finished goods.
The government has also announced 100 per cent remission in respect of cess on land revenue and water cess for the affected farmers.
Besides, school fees and examination fees up to high school level in government schools have been waived in the affected districts. Two pairs of school uniforms and textbooks will be provided to the children up to elementary school level in the affected areas.
