The Mamata Banerjee government has decided to spend Rs 1,300 crore to extend “immediate” relief to nearly 35 lakh farmers affected by Cyclone Bulbul in a move being viewed as a bid to discredit the BJP-led Centre.
According to the chief minister, the Centre hasn’t released any money even after sending teams to survey the devastation.
The state had sought a special package of Rs 23,811 crore from Delhi to undertake rehabilitation and restoration work in the cyclone-hit areas.
Last week, Mamata had said in the Assembly that the Centre didn’t release any money despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah’s promises to her after the cyclone that the Centre would provide all assistance.
Against the backdrop, the state’s decision to take up relief and rehabilitation without waiting for central funds assumes significance.
“The state government was initially finding it difficult to arrange for cash as the state disaster response funds (SDRF) — in which the state and the Centre both contribute to rehabilitation work after a natural disaster — does not have the required money. But we cannot wait for central funds till eternity as the priority is to help the affected farmers,” said a source.
According to the official, the government decided to put on hold some development projects, like a bridge in Alipurduar, for a few months to save on funds. Following the decision, the list of affected farmers is being prepared and estimates on how much money will be required was drawn up.
“A sum of Rs 1,300 crore will be required to give some of the farmers so that they can invest in the forthcoming rabi (winter) season. Crops on about 15 lakh hectares were damaged. The assistance will be provided to about 35 lakh farmers,” said a senior official.
Sources said according to the plan, each farmer will get Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000 on average depending on the extent of his losses.
The assistance will be provided to the farmers of North and South 24-Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, East and West Midnapore — the districts that bore the brunt of the cyclone.
“The immediate relief will help farmers cultivate their fields during the rabi (winter) season. The assistance would be provided to all farmers irrespective of the fact whether they were covered under the crop insurance or not,” said another official.
The initiative, sources said, will serve a political purpose as well. The ruling Trinamul can claim the BJP-led Centre didn’t do anything for the cyclone-affected people of Bengal.
“Nabanna’s initiative will send a message in the rural parts that the state government was with the farmers, not the Narendra Modi government,” said a source.
However, some officials wondered how a farmer, who was covered under an existing crop insurance scheme, could be given immediate assistance.
“The farmers, at least 50 per cent of them covered under the scheme, would get compensation from the insurance companies. It is difficult to understand why they would be given the immediate relief,” asked a bureaucrat.
A senior official pointed outthat since it would take months for the farmers to get compensation under the insurance, some help was needed right away. “We want them to cultivate their plots this winter season… So the government has decided to give them support.”
