Bhubaneswar: Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari announced on Monday that the Odisha state government will provide compensation to farmers for crop losses caused by unseasonal rainfall within the next five days.
Addressing the media in Bhubaneswar, Minister Pujari stated that district administrations have been instructed to conduct a thorough assessment of the crop damage caused by the recent unseasonal rainfall. He emphasized that officials from unaffected areas have been engaged in the assessment process to ensure an unbiased and accurate evaluation of losses.
“The Revenue department officials have already begun on-the-ground assessments. They have been directed to complete the process within three days,” said Minister Pujari. He assured farmers not to worry, as the state government is committed to compensating for the losses incurred due to natural calamities.
The Revenue minister highlighted that the assessment is expected to be finalized within three to four days, and compensation will be disbursed to farmers through district administrations within five days. He also instructed district Collectors to assist farmers in selling crops that have been partially damaged but not entirely lost.
Ganjam district has been identified as the worst-affected region due to the untimely rains. Minister Pujari clarified that all affected farmers, including those covered under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), will receive compensation through input subsidies for their crop losses.
Additionally, insurance companies have been directed to expedite the disbursement of compensation to farmers. Reports indicate widespread damage to harvested crops in various coastal and interior districts, including Angul, Balasore, Bhadrak, Boudh, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Deogarh, Gajapati, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Kendrapara, and Rayagada, among others.