Gorakhpur: Alleging that Samajwadi Party govt deprived farmers of their rightful compensation and siphoned off public money, chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said that the curse of farmers brought down the SP.While transferring Rs 493 crore in agricultural input assistance to 9,18,091 farmers affected by floods, excessive rainfall, hailstorm and cyclones, Yogi said under SP govt farmers got compensation of Rs 2, Rs 4 and Rs 15.“The present govt is transferring assistance directly into the bank accounts of farmers through direct benefit transfer (DBT),” he said.Yogi announced that paddy and coarse grain procurement centres would open from Oct 15 in districts affected by excessive rainfall and waterlogging. The centres would procure paddy, jowar, bajra and maize, ensuring farmers could sell their produce at govt procurement centres.“Before 2017, there was no electricity, but bills arrived. Now, farmers do not receive electricity bills, but get electricity,” Yogi said.The CM said the govt ensured compensation for crop, house and livestock losses within 8-10 days of calamity. “In cases of loss of life, officials have been directed to provide Rs 4 lakh in assistance within 24 hours,” he said.Yogi alleged that Congress and SP govts allowed funds meant for beneficiaries to be siphoned off through middlemen.Referring to the 2014 Hudhud cyclone, Yogi claimed that of the Rs 3,200 crore released by Centre, only Rs 800 crore reached farmers. He said additional assistance was arranged for affected farmers after he became chief minister in 2017.Yogi said nearly Rs 1,000 crore was provided to disaster-affected farmers and residents across the state during the current monsoon season.The latest assistance was based on digital crop surveys and would reach beneficiaries without deductions or intermediaries.The CM said families whose houses were damaged by floods, excessive rainfall or cyclones were being provided an additional Rs 1.2 lakh under Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana, in addition to crop-loss assistance.“Families whose houses were destroyed will be provided housing, while compensation will be given for partially damaged houses according to rules,” he said.Yogi also highlighted the govt’s measures for flood control, road repairs and early-warning systems for lightning strikes. Under Mukhyamantri Krishak Durghatna Bima Yojana, eligible families of farmers or sharecroppers who die in natural calamities such as lightning strikes are entitled to Rs 5 lakh.Listing the govt’s initiatives, Yogi said loans worth Rs 36,000 crore had been waived for 86 lakh small and marginal farmers. “Electricity for 16 lakh private tubewells was made free, while irrigation facilities were extended to an additional 22 lakh hectares,” he said.
