'Rs.3,700-crore relief package for farmers affected by rainfall', Gujarat CM announces

Gandhinagar, Sept 22: With an aim to help the farmers affected due to excess rainfall this year, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has announced a massive Rs.3700-crore relief package in the Gujarat Assembly.

 

 

“In the current year, the monsoon was on time… in the beginning, it rained in the right proportion and was favourable to the crops. Crop production was estimated to be good. But in August, heavy rain flooded many farms and damaged crops,” said Rupani, while moving a motion under Rule 44 of the Gujarat Assembly.

 

He said groundnut, paddy, cotton, bajra, pulses and vegetable crops were reportedly damaged. “I am announcing a Rs 3,700-crore package to help the farmers,” said Rupani on the first day of the five-day monsoon session that began on Monday.

 

 

The Chief Minister assured that the relief package will cover over 27-lakh farmers who are believed to be hit by heavy rainfall in the month of August during the current monsoon which destroyed Kharif crop.

 

The farmers who suffered 33 per cent or more damage of crops will get Rs. 10,000 per hectare relief for a maximum of 2 hectares of land. However, the small farmers will also get at least Rs. 5,000 assistance under this package. To avail the compensation, farmers will have to make online applications through local e-gram centres.

 

About 37 lakh hectare of land across 123 talukas in 20 districts have been affected by the excess rains particularly the districts of Saurashtra were among the most affected this monsoon. About 11 talukas each of Rajkot and Amreli districts and 10 talukas, each of Kutch, Junagadh and Surendranagar will benefit from the compensation package.

 

The relief package informed that applications can be filed from 1st October on a dedicated portal. Farmers can visit e-gram centres and file their applications without any cost.The payment of assistance will be done through Direct Benefit Transfer -DBT mode.