MARGAO
Devastated by the destruction left behind by Cyclone Tauktae in mid-May, farmers from Salcete countryside are all at sea, but for a different reason.
These 40-plus farmers, who had claimed compensation for the losses caused by Cyclone Tauktae, are anxiously waiting for the government to compensate them for the destruction of their standing paddy and other crops.
While victims of the natural calamity have started receiving the promised compensation under the National Disaster Management Funds, it’s unclear whether the farmers will receive the compensation under the Disaster Management Funds of the central government or under the Shetkarai Aadhar Nidhi Scheme, a state government sponsored scheme.
Consider this. After the government announced compensation for the farmers for the destruction of crops, the Zonal Agriculture Officer, Margao received as many as 40-plus applications from farmers seeking compensation for the damaged crops.
Sources in the know pointed out that the Zonal Agriculture officer compiled the list of cases and forwarded the same to the district Collectorate, with a plea to compensate the farmers under the Disaster Management Funds.
Even as the farmers were looking forward for early disbursement of the compensation, the Zonal Agriculture Office received a communique from the South district Collectorate, returning back all the applications for compensation.
While returning back the applications back to the ZAO office, deputy Collector, Joao Fernandes was categorical in saying that the request for compensation of losses caused to agricultural crops of farmers due to cyclonic storm Tauktae under the National Disaster Management funds cannot be considered as informed by the office of the Disaster Management Cell, South Goa Collectorate.
Sources informed that the deputy Collector apparently took the decision after the Mamlatdar in the Collectorate, Gaurav Gaounkar wrote a letter stating that the request of the ZAO, Margao to pay the compensation from the fund of the National Disaster fund scheme cannot be considered since the funds under the State Disaster Response Force cannot be utilized beyond its norms. “The SDRF Fund and its norms are governed by the government of India directives and the Shetkari Aadhar Nidhi scheime is a state government scheme”, the Mamladar stated.
Given the peculiar situation, the ZAO, Margao office has now forwarded the applications for compensation to Agriculture department Head office for guidance and action, leaving no other option for the beleaguered farmers than to wait for the government to take a call on the scheme applicable for award of compensation.
