SAHARANPUR (UP), Apr 16: Voicing concern over cases of farmer suicides, Home Minister Rajnath Singh today asked Uttar Pradesh government to immediately distribute Rs 506 crore, given to the state under the disaster relief fund, among the farmers affected by unseasonal rains and hailstorm.
The Minister, who visited some affected areas, said there should not be any politics on the issue and the central government was fully behind the state government in its efforts to help the farmers in distress.
Singh, a former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, asked all political parties to join hands in giving succour to the distraught farmers. “I am not here to blame anyone or criticise the state government. I appeal to everyone, all political parties, to join hands and give relief to farmers in whatever way possible,” he said.
The Home Minister said as a son of farmer he understood the problems of farmers well.
“The Prime Minister is very concerned with the problems being faced by the farmers. We have already decided that those farmers whose 33 per cent crops were damaged, will be given full compensation.
“We have given clear instruction in this regard,” he said.
Concerned over reports of suicides, Singh appealed to farmers to ensure that such incidents don’t recur.
“Help any distraught farmer you see. Try to solve his problem or bring a public representative to him. Don’t allow anyone to commit suicide,” he said.
Singh said due to the federal structure of the country it was not possible for the central government to give funds directly to the farmers and it has to be done through state Governments.
“I want to appeal to all state governments to give as much relief a you can to the farmers. We are behind you,” he said.
The Home Minister also asked state government officials to visit farmers and help them as a humanitarian gesture and do justice to the needy.
“We want to help every one — no matter what caste, creed, religion. The problem is being faced by everyone,” he said.
According to initial estimate, around 55 districts in Uttar Pradesh were affected due to unseasonal rains and hailstorms.
Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately sanction Rs 1,000 crore to Uttar Pradesh for providing relief to farmers.
Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh had said that unseasonal rains and hailstorms have damaged rabi (winter-sown) crops in about 113 lakh hectares of crop area in the country.
Total cultivable area in rabi season stands at 600 lakh hectares. (PTI)
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