Bhubaneswar: The Odisha State Committee of the CPI (M) has warned of a statewide agitation against the state government if its demands for adequate relief and compensation to victims of Cyclone Arnab and the subsequent floods are not met. Terming the relief package grossly inadequate, the party alleged that the assistance falls far short of the losses suffered by farmers and affected families. In a press release issued on Monday, the CPI(M) said the compensation announced by the BJP government following its assessment of the damage and visit to affected areas October 30 was insufficient to address the extensive losses caused to agriculture, livelihoods and property.
Under the announced package, the state government has provided agricultural input assistance of Rs 8,400 per hectare for non-irrigated land, Rs 17,000 for irrigated land and Rs 22,500 for multi-crop irrigated land. This translates to less than Rs 3,400, Rs 6,800 and Rs 9,100 per acre, respectively. The package also includes 50 kg of rice and financial assistance of up to Rs 2,500 for each affected family.
Describing the package as an eyewash, the CPI(M) alleged that the compensation had been calculated on the basis of outdated NDRF and SDRF norms, which have not been revised to reflect present-day requirements. The party pointed out that the existing norms largely restrict compensation to standing crops, excluding farmers whose crops have already been harvested or whose harvested produce has been damaged. It also said several categories of crops and agricultural activities were outside the compensation framework, while sharecroppers and actual cultivators continued to be excluded from assistance. The CPI(M) said it would mobilise people and build a broad based movement against the state government if its demands were not fulfilled.
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