Govt releases over Rs. 1500 crore relief package for farmers

The Central Government has released Rs. 1530 crore or 40 percent of the package announced by the Prime Minister for relief to farmers in six districts of Vidarbha region in Maharashtra, Agriculture Minister Sharad Paward has announced.

Of the Rs. 38,73 crore package, Rs. 1530 crore has been released to the state government in the last six months, Pawar said replying to supplementaries during Question Hour in Rajya Sabha (Upper House of the Parliament).

The amount released includes Rs. 784 crore for waiver of interest on loans taken by farmers and about Rs. 700 crore for irrigation projects, Pawar said.

"It is the responsibility of the state government to implement (the package). According to the report we have received from the state government, 75 percent of the amount released has already been spent," he said.

A three–member committee, headed by Prof. Radha Krishan, has sought a five–month extension till May–end for submission of recommendations on reducing the burden of farming community by waiver of loans or interest, Pawar said.

On the affidavit filed by the Maharashtra Government in the Supreme Court on the Centre not providing enough money for relief to farmers, Pawar said a component of relief package included Rs. 50 lakh to each District Collector for providing immediate relief to families of farmers committing suicide.

The state government had reported that the entire amount sanctioned had been spent and had demanded more money which the Center had not yet provided, he said adding there were delays in release of money for irrigation projects pending environment clearance.

Every year, in Maharashtra and other states, thousands of farmers drastically impoverished due to bad harvests and huge debts, commit suicide.