Crop damage, meagre compensation claim over 100 farmers' lives in UP

LUCKNOW: The farm distress in Uttar Pradesh has worsened with continuous rains in most parts of the state over the last two days wreaking havoc in the fields. Farmers' death toll has crossed 100 even as reports of meagre compensation, as small as Rs 75 to Rs 150, to farmers in distress have embarrassed the state government.

But despite more than a fortnight since reports of farm distress started pouring in from various parts of UP, the state government is yet to put its act together for ensuring immediate relief to affected farmers. Chief Secretary Alok Ranjan has accepted 99 deaths of farmers have taken place due to various reasons in the last few weeks. The Opposition has claimed the number of deaths and suicides are higher.

"Our reports have pointed to 157 deaths of farmers due to shock or suicide on seeing the crops wiped out," said state BJP president Laxmikant Bajpai. Farmers activist Sudhir Panwar of Kisan Jagriti Manch said, "the situation is indeed grave. The rains are just not stopping be it west UP or eastern parts of the state, and some districts also saw hail which has damaged crops in entire villages". However Ranjan said, "till now 99 cases of untimely deaths or suicide by farmers have come to light. Though suicides are very few, we are taking each case seriously and reaching out to the affected. We have even raised the minimum compensation to farmers whose crops have been damaged to Rs 1,500. No cheque less than Rs 1,500 would be issued".

Several cases of meagre compensation had poured in from various parts of UP, with some farmers receiving cheques from the government of amounts as low as Rs 75, Rs 150 and Rs 200. The Chief Secretary said that while the Centre had mandated giving only Rs 13,500 per hectare as compensation for damaged crop, the state has decided to hike the amount to Rs 18,000 per hectare. The kin of those who had an untimely death would be given Rs 5 lakh as ex gratia payment.