Of 146 rain-hit Ambala villages, relief for only 25

Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ambala, January 21

A handful of rain-affected farmers from nearly 25 villages have been provided compensation under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana after over three months even as the majority of them remain without relief from insurance company and the government.

An untimely rain and hailstorm on October 11 had damaged more than 75 per cent paddy crop in 146 villages in the district.

Over 4,950 farmers, who had their crops insured, have been seeking compensation from insurance company, while nearly 17,000 farmers, who did not have their crop insured, have been demanding compensation from the government.

Deputy Commissioner Sharandeep Kaur said a few affected farmers from Babaheri, Machonda, Ugara, Dhanaura, Dhanauri, Kot Kachhua, Tharwa, Nagla, Adhoya, Chhapra, Lakhnaura, Lalpur, Nanhera, Baroli, Pulewala, Mirzapur, Barsumajra, Bhunni, Kherki Jatan, Sambhalkha, Ramhargh, Shergarh, Kesri, Bichpari, and Pasiala villages had been provided compensation on Monday under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. She said officials had been directed to transfer the compensation amount into the accounts of the remaining farmers at the earliest.

Girish Nagpal, Deputy Director Agriculture, said, “The department has been making sincere efforts and farmers have started getting the compensation from today.”

Captain Vinod Sharma, district revenue officer, said, “The data of uninsured farmers has been sent to the Financial Commissioner (Revenue) and the payment is likely to be made to farmers within two-three days. There are nearly 17,000 uninsured farmers in Ambala and they will get Rs14 crore for their crop loss.”

Rajiv Sharma, spokesman of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, said, “Farmers will hold a meeting outside the DC’s office on Tuesday and take a decision on the issue.”