Gujarat govt. extends application time for non-seasonal rain affected farmers

Gandhinagar: The Gujarat government has extended the application date for monetary relief to farmers in the state whose crops were affected by excessive rain this year.

Deputy Chief Minister cum Finance minister Nitin Patel today said that the date has been extended till January 14.

He also said that the survey with regard to locust attack damage to farmers in North Gujarat was also nearing completion and such farmers would also be compensated like the ones affected by non seasonal rain.

Notably the relief money to farmers affected by excessive non-seasonal rain is being distributed since December 25.

Almost 30 lakh farmers had given application for the relief earlier on. The initial estimate of the state government was that over 52 lakh farmers of the state would take the benefit. Now with the extension of date for application the number is likely to go up. Main opposition Congress had alleged that due to non-availability of internet and other facilities in remote areas many farmers could not do online application for relief package.

Notably on November 23, the state government had announced a relief package of Rs 3795 crore for the rain affected farmers of which Rs 2154 crores would be shared by the center while the state would provide Rs 1641 crore.

The government had earlier on November 13 announced a Rs 700 crore package which was latter expanded.

Deputy CM cum Finance Minister of Gujarat Nitin Patel had said that this relief assistance would be apart from the benefits of the crops insurance scheme.

In the districts where over one inch of non-seasonal rain had affected crops farmers would get Rs 6800 per hectare with the maximum limit of two hectares. For areas with less than 1 inch of such rain it was Rs 4000 for each of the farmers.

DeshGujarat