Akhilesh Govt mocks rain-hit farmers in UP! Distributes compensation cheques of Rs 75 to Rs 330

Lucknow, Apr 13: After unseasonal rain and hailstorms damaged their crops that left millions of farmers in the state in lurch, now it is the Uttar Pradesh government that is rubbing salt over their wounds.

As per media reports, several farmers in Faizabad district received relief cheques for damaged crops. But you'll be shocked to know that the compensation amount these cheques are quoting is between Rs 75 and 330. This reflects the Samajwadi Party government's apathy towards farmers who first saw their crops get damaged in rain and now getting meager compensation.

Reacting to this shocking news opposition BJP has said this shows Akhilesh Yadav government's apathy towards distraught farmers.

Faizabad (UP): Farmers get relief cheques for damaged crops. A farmer shows her cheque amounting to Rs 297. pic.twitter.com/mE2UcgZIBh

— ANI (@ANI_news) April 13, 2015

BJP's UP president, Laxmikant Bajpai, while showing some cheques to ANI said, "The state government is giving out compensation cheques of Rs 75 to Rs 330. It is like mocking the farmers. I've seven such cheques with me."

Faizabad (UP): Farmers get relief cheques for damaged crops. A farmer shows his cheque of Rs 100. pic.twitter.com/8JQCD9m5L5

— ANI (@ANI_news) April 13, 2015

"No cheques for an amount below Rs 700 can be made, but the farmers have been given cheques of Rs 100. Besides this, cheques of Rs 100 have been issued to deceased persons," he further added.

Meanwhile, revenue officials in the area justified their act by saying they are working as per norms. Taking note of the development the state machinery sprang into action and the government has now said it checking with the concerned officials.

As per Centre the compensation amount fixed by it is Rs 4,500 per hectare in non-irrigated areas while a compensation of Rs 9000 per hectare has been fixed in irrigated area. [UP: More than 30 farmers die due to crop loss; Akhilesh Govt still in 'denial mode']

Watching their crops getting damaged, more than 30 farmers in the state have reportedly lost their lives.

Even families of the deceased farmers claimed that they either committed suicide or died of shock due to loss of crop. But, Akhilesh Yadav Government refuted the reports of farmers' suicide due to crop loss caused by vagaries of nature.

"Till date, 35 people have died, but there has been no suicide or shock death due to loss of crop. These deaths were mainly due to incidents of house collapse or lightning," Chief Secretary Alok Ranjan told reporters here.

"35 deaths are directly connected to heavy rainfall and hailstorm. It has not been established anywhere that farmers had committed suicide because of crop loss," he said.

Ranjan said a fresh estimate of crop loss was above Rs 1,100 crore and so far five lakh farmers have been affected. Following this the state government has released Rs 500 crore as compensation to the farmers.

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