New Delhi: Haryana government had always claimed that they are farmer friendly but the story is a little different. The self-proclaimed farmer-friendly Haryana government has doled out cheques worth royal amounts ranging from Rs.2-6 to a number of farmers of Jhajjar district as compensation for their damaged crops.
Haryana government had paid this compensation after a wait of nearly two years which added insult to injury. It is known as water-logging and excessive rainfall had damaged the crops of farmers in 2011. A special survey was set up in 2011 to assess the damage and decided on these paltry amounts.
The farmers are very much upset over the “cruel joke” played on them by the Bhupinder Singh Hooda government and decided not to accept the measly sum of money.
A farmer named Vijender said, “This is a cruel joke on the hard-working farmers. The expense incurred in encashing these cheques is more than the compensation given.” Farmer Satyanarayan got a cheque of Rs.2 while another, Tek Chand, received Rs.3.
Farmers allege that officials deliberately miscalculated the loss to the crops by understating the damage in their survey.
The opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leaders accused the Hooda government “of making a mockery” of the compensation.
INLD leader and legislator Abhay Chautala said, “The farmers handed over the original cheques when we asked for photocopies. They said photocopy will cost more than the compensation value.”
The government of Haryana claims that it has been paying compensation of Rs.3,500 per acre for crop damage. Hooda himself defended the compensation saying that adequate amount had been given.
An official spokesperson on Thursday said, “The Haryana government has released a compensation of Rs.1.14 crore for the farmers affected by water-logging in Beri tehsil (administrative division) area of Jhajjar district in 2011. This amount has been distributed to the affected farmers at a rate of Rs.3,500 per acre for 3,365 acres of land, according to their share in khewat (the number of the owners’ holding).”
He also tried to clarify the low compensation and said: “Some khewats have more share holders and the compensation was given as per their land share. In ‘Girdawari’ (record of land cultivation), efforts were made to ensure compensation was given to every marginal farmer in the khewat.”
Bureau Report
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