Oppn slams govt for delay in disbursing drought relief funds

Ranchi: The opposition parties have lashed out at the BJP-led state government for its delay in disbursement of relief funds to several farmers even as they reeling from agrarian crisis owing to the recent spate of drought. The government had in November last year declared 129 blocks in 18 districts of the state as ‘drought-hit’ and classified another 93 blocks as ‘severely-affected’, prompting the Centre to sanction Rs 272 crore drought relief fund.
Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, mahagathbandhan constituents are busy drafting campaign strategies around this issue to deflate BJP’s pro-farmer claims. Of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in Jharkahnd, Chatra, Palamu and Koderma — many parts of which were declared drought-hit — goes to polls on April 29.

Sources in the state disaster management department said they are unsure when the disbursement of relief fund will begin.

“The letter from the Centre maintained that out of Rs 272 crore, Rs 256 crore is for input subsidy to farmers. But there is no clarity on how to calculate input subsidy to each beneficiary. Apart from that we will seek the election commission’s permission in view of the model code of conduct,” said an official in the state disaster management department. On the remaining amount sanctioned by the Centre, he added, “There were some issues with the format for demands that needed to be sent afresh.”

When contacted, Manish Tiwari, special secretary of disaster management department confirmed the funds have arrived. He said the government will begin disbursement soon.

Opposition parties are seeing red over the delay in the release of funds. “In a couple of months another spell of monsoon will come but the farmers continue to suffer. This shows the urgency with which BJP governments are working in Jharkhand,” Alok Dubey, a senior Congress leader said, adding that farm distress is one of their focal points to counter BJP.

Congress ally, JMM agreed no less. “Sangarsh yatra, which was held by our working president Hemant Soren in the run up to the polls, have brought forth how farmers across the state are struggling for survival. In many places, farmers haven’t even received their farm insurance money for years,” remarked Vinod Pandey, JMM’s general secretary and spokesperson.

JVM-P’s central spokesperson Sunita Singh went on to add that districts like Palamu, Chatra, Koderma are some of the worst-hit areas. “On one hand the government works overtime to hold big-ticket events like food and agriculture summit by investing crores of rupees but on the other it fails to show urgency in disbursing funds meant to farmers,” she said.