A statement from Gujarat Youth Congress spokesperson Tejas Vachani said the government’s announcement of an economic package for farmers was welcome. The government was expected to first give farmers the rights they deserve under the law and then announce additional assistance. The government should not pretend to give a favorable economic package to the farmers by putting aside the existing laws and schemes.
He further said that the government was currently hoping to provide adequate compensation to the farmers as per the Natural Calamities Act as per the SDRF as per the Chief Minister Kisan Sahay in the state. It is only right that the government announces an additional economic package only after giving the benefit of the above three schemes. At present, if the farmers are compensated according to the three schemes, they are entitled to compensation of Rs 35,000 to Rs 40,000 per hectare.
Tejas Vachani further said that due to the hurricane, heavy rains and the ensuing situation, the farmers are in dire straits due to Diwali.
Why did the state government announce aid in only four districts? Is only 13000 farmers per hectare affected? Has 682 villages in 21 talukas of only four districts in Gujarat been affected by heavy rains? Have farmers lost as much as Rs 5,000 on the farm? At present, seeds, fertilizers, diesel and petrol are all expensive for farmers. Then how much will the assistance of 5000 by the state government help the farmers?
The Gujarat government does not provide assistance only by looking at the boundaries of villages, talukas and districts as this excess rain did not happen by looking at any border. The government should compensate on the basis of humanity and real economic conditions. Even a hectare of land is not cultivated from Rs 13,000 today, said spokesperson Tejas Vachani.