Chandigarh, September 17
The General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee, former Union Minister and Sirsa MP Kumari Selja has said that the recent devastating floods have caused huge damage to farmers’ crops. Instead of providing relief to farmers in this difficult time, the government is entrapping them in the complications of the portal. In such a situation, it is the government’s responsibility to immediately take steps in the interest of farmers and provide proper compensation to the affected farmers at the earliest.
In a statement released to the media, Kumari Selja said that farmers are complaining that the portal created for flood victims neither has timely internet access nor is it functioning properly. At many places, the portal was found to be non-functional, and despite September 17 being the last date, farmers were unable to register their crops. On September 15, the server remained down the entire day. Kumari Selja said it is extremely unfortunate that when farmers urgently need support and relief, the government is shirking its responsibility. Kumari Selja said that the portals launched by the state BJP government can only succeed if internet services are improved. Compared to cities, the condition of internet facilities in rural areas is very poor. Farmers keep making rounds of CSC centers from morning till evening, only to be told every time that the server is down or the internet is not working. MP Kumari Selja said that the government should not take any step that troubles farmers. Paddy has been the most affected crop due to the floods, and insurance companies are reluctant to provide compensation for it. The government should also take action in this regard.
Kumari Selja demanded that the government itself conduct a girdawari (crop damage assessment) and evaluate the actual damage caused by floods, provide immediate compensation to farmers without delay, postpone recovery of affected farmers’ loans for one year, bear the interest of this period itself, and instead of entangling farmers in portal-related technical issues, deliver relief and assistance directly to them. Kumari Selja said that the floods have dealt a severe blow to farmers’ livelihoods, and it is the government’s duty to take immediate and concrete steps to ensure the safety of farmers’ lives and future.
