Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, June 1: The BJP-PDP Coalition Government has played a cruel joke with hapless farmers from Gajansoo Marh and Phallain Mandal area of Jammu district as they have been paid cheques worth just Rs 97 and Rs 113 as compensation for their damaged crops in rains, hailstorm and floods.
Adding insult to the injury of the farmers, who are holding protests and agitating for the last several months, demanding compensation for the damaged crops worth thousands and lakhs of rupees, the State Agriculture department and Revenue authorities are distributing these cheques with peanut amount among these farmers. While most of the farmers got agitated on seeing the amount mentioned and returned the same to the officers concerned suggesting them to take a dozen bananas or other fruits for their children while going back home in the evening of this peanut amount.
The farmers from Marh area, Nagar Singh who received cheque No. 163473 of JK Bank worth Rs 94 ( A/C No CD 1058), Ram Dass from Sarora ( Marh) Cheque No. 163475 of the same Bank worth Rs 94, Bachan Singh from Marh cheque No 163464 also worth Rs 94 of the same bank and Karan Singh of Sarora cheque No 163474 worth Rs 113 as signed by the Sub Divisional Agriculture Officer, Marh ( HQ) Talab Tillo, Jammu, told the Excelsior that their crops worth thousands of rupees have been damaged due to hailstorm, rains and floods and they were expecting fair justice but this act of the PDP and BJP Government has added salt to their wounds.
Terming this as “cruel joke” with the farmers from Jammu region, who suffered huge damages due to September 2014 floods and rains besides hailstorm, these farmers said that if the Government has gone bankrupt, it should stop playing joke with the poor farmers by offering this kind of help. They should be left to commit suicides. If this is the attitude of the Government, then it gives clear indication that there is no government at all.
Another farmer Balbir Singh Saini, son of Basant Singh Saini from Sarora in Marh said that Rs 32 is the minimum and Rs 113 maximum amount being paid as compensation to the farmers of the area. He said these cheques arrived here hardly 10-12 days back and Agriculture officials along with local Revenue authorities started issuing to the affected farmers. While some of the people received the same, many others when noticed this small amount less than Rs 100, majority of them got agitated and returned to the officers abusing Government and the offices concerned. He said then officials packed the cheques and went back sensing trouble. No political person even the MLA (now Minister) concerned, dared to distribute these cheques apprehending public wrath. Saini said they have nearly 120 kanal land and about 40 % of their crops was affected. They were offered a cheque of just Rs 113. ” We refused to accept the cheque and asked the agency officers to leave the village otherwise, they would face the direct public action,” Saini added.
He alleged that no field officer from Revenue and Agriculture departments actually visited the damaged fields. They just sat in the Panchayat Ghars/ or other offices and other locations of their convenience and no proper assessment was conducted. They prepared lists in the offices. Entire exercise was just eye wash. There seems to be a big scam and high level inquiry should be held.
Naib Sarpanch from Marh area Jagdish Raj said it was better if the Government had straightway denied the compensation to the farmers. By issuing these cheques, they had added salt to the wounds of affected farmers. Such provocative acts of the Government are basically making the farmers to commit suicide. He further disclosed that a widow farmer, Bholi Devi of the village got cheque worth Rs 75, farmer Mast Ram cheque worth Rs 32 and one Shamsher Singh received cheque worth Rs 47. “Is this not a cruel joke with these affected farmers who have suffered massive losses,” Naib Sarpanch asked.
He said today a large number of farmers of the area led by local leader from Congress Balwan Singh ( Ex-MLA) met the SDM Marh and submitted a memorandum for the State Governor N N Vokhra demanding high level inquiry. He said some cheques were also returned to the Administration. About 76 farmers signed this memorandum and refused to accept this amount.
Prominent Kissan leader from Suchetgarh Ch Dev Raj describing it as cruel joke with the farmers said that farmers have now decided to launch a massive agitation. He said issuing such cheques exposes the Modi Govt fully. He said State Government is also not doing justice with the farmers. He appealed the farmers not to accept the cheques and get ready for massive agitation ahead. He also demanded withdrawal of undeclared ban on export of Basmati rice.
Director Agriculture Jammu Dr S S Jamwal when contacted said that joint teams of Agriculture and Revenue officials have prepared the lists and as per Central CDRF norms this compensation has been released. He alleged that Revenue officials have played main role in it while preparing lists while cheques have been signed or issued by Agriculture department officers. On the allegations of no proper survey conducted, Director said field officers from Revenue including Patwaris / Girdawars and a few Agriculture officials have prepared these lists and as per losses shown, the cheques were issued. He tried to pass a buck to the Revenue department.
Follow our WhatsApp channel