Purushottam Patra, Gariaband. Apart from 28 villages of Jhiripani Nishtiguda Samiti, 1818 farmers of Dohal, Jharabahal, Dhugiyamuda, Mudagaon, Mungjhar, Sonamundi, Kendupati and Temra have not been able to sell a single grain of paddy. They have an outstanding loan of Rs 9.95 crore in the District Cooperative Bank for this Kharif season. According to bank rules, the loan has to be repaid by March 15. If this is not done, interest penalty i.e. 12 percent interest will start being charged on the loan amount from March 16.
In the month of October, the bank had issued notice through the committee. As soon as the notice was received, the loanee farmers were left with sleepless nights. Farmers are continuously presenting their demands by submitting memorandum to the CM as well as taking out rallies in the streets. The delegation is knocking at every office of the district administration. From where they have hope. Even today, a delegation of about 50 farmers under the leadership of farmer leaders Jai Krishna Nagesh, Aslam Memon, Jadu Ram, Jagmohan were seen going before Agriculture, Tehsil and SDM and asking about the action taken on their demands.
Farmers Nilambar Markam, Shyam Sundar, Shashidhar, Shobharam told that farmers of 26 villages have not been able to sell even a single grain of paddy. Even the loans are not worth paying off. If the benefit of crop compensation amount and insurance scheme is not received by March 1, then their condition will not be suitable for farming in the next season. As soon as he defaults in the bank, he will not get loan for the next season. There is already a lot of debt, money lending will also increase. The farmers said that if their demands are not met by March, they have no option but to fast unto death.
eyes fixed on insurance amount
As soon as the government changed, the hope of loan waiver ended. It is not possible to compensate the farmers with a small amount of compensation. In such a situation, now the eyes of the farmers are fixed on the crop insurance scheme. If the insurance claim is received in proportion to the loss reported by the administration so far, then farmers will be compensated to some extent.
According to the information, the private insurance company will take 6 percent of the loan amount i.e. more than Rs 2.5 crore from Devbhog tehsil on the basis of contract. Under the scheme, 2 percent of the insurance premium i.e. Rs 88 lakh has been paid as farmer contribution in the loan amount given to the farmers. The company will take the remaining amount from the state and central government in the fixed ratio.
Those who do not sell paddy will get compensation amount
Tehsildar Gend Lal Sahu said that the list of affected farmers has been made on the basis of the report of Patwari and REO. In which the names of those selling paddy are being deleted. Everyone will soon be given compensation amount at the rate of Rs 8500 per hectare under RBC 6(4).
Claim amount will be available in the first week of March
Agriculture Deputy Director Chandan Rai said that all the processes at the district level have been completed. The insurance company has also cross-examined the report. After taking the remaining amount of premium from the state, now the process of taking it from the center is going on. Once it is over, there is every possibility that the insurance amount will be paid on the basis of fixed percentage by the first week of March.
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