Jagan meets Prez, seeks relief for flood victims

Following is the full text of the letter submitted to President Pranab Mukherjee in Hyderabad by YSRCP chief Sri Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy-led delegation seeking adequate compensation for the flood victims in the state.

November 5, 2013

To:

Shri Pranab Mukherjee ji

His Excellency President of India                                       

Camp: HYDERABAD

Respected Sir

In the immediate aftermath of Phailin cyclone that lashed the East Coast of our country, our state experienced unprecedented rains and floods across the state in the last fifteen days causing widespread loss of life and property with the farmers and the poor people taking the major brunt of the damage. As many as sixteen out of twenty three districts in the State have been most severely affected. About 5186 villages spread in 567 Revenue Mandals have been very badly damaged. As per the official version, about 52 persons died and 6 others are missing while an estimated 1.30 lakh people were shifted to relief camps. An estimated 50,000 houses were completely damaged. As per the official estimates, standing crops about to be harvested in about 30 lakh acres of agricultural lands were completely damaged besides the loss of 2500 cattle. About 937 major irrigation and 2000 minor irrigation tanks were breached besides affecting 7586 kms of R & B roads and 2500 km of Panchayat roads. There have been extensive damages to fishing nets and boats besides the properties of over 2000 weaver families.

Although the Government estimates that the crop losses would be around Rs 3,352 cr, the actual losses are going to be much higher. This is an unprecedented calamity by any standards. The State Government’s responses both in 2009 when the State faced a similar situation and in the Neelam cyclone in 2012 were highly disappointing. Even in those floods, there was extensive damage to standing crops and heavy loss of life and property. The State Government, which promptly announced a relief package, completely failed in reaching out to the affected, with the relief package not reaching even 10% of the affected farmers. With the Central Government also failing to come to their rescue, the farmers have lost every rupee that they earned in the past.

It is important to recall that in the year 2009-10, when there were bumper crops, because the State Government and FCI failed in its duty to implement MSP, the farmers suffered heavily having been forced to sell their produce at Rs 300 per quintal less than MSP, which itself fell heavily short of the remunerative price. This naturally disheartened and demoralized the farmers, who in an unprecedented manner have voluntarily declared crop holiday.

The Phailin cyclone and the subsequent heavy rains and floods coming at this stage impacting large sections of our farmers and rural artisans is like the last straw on the camel’s back. Both the State and Central Governments have the responsibility to reach out to those affected. Last year, the state suffered because of Neelam cyclone and the floods in its aftermath. This has unfortunately become an annual affair. The farmers, fishermen and weavers need special help and support of the Government.

The farmers are already in a quandary with the fertilizer prices going up by 200% in the last three years. The other input costs have also gone up substantially, making farming an extremely unviable activity. With the reverses that the farmers in our State suffered because of the failure of both the Central and State Governments during the last three years, almost all the farmers have become debt trapped. We request that the Central Government should come up with a fresh debt waiver scheme to come to the rescue of the debt trapped farmers.

In the light of the above, in addition to the aforesaid requests, the farmers, rural artisans and others affected in the Phailin cyclone need the following immediate help. We request that:

·         The crop loans and interest, if any, thereon in respect of the fully affected crops should be waived and fresh crop loans should be granted for next cropping activity for all affected farmers including the tenant farmers.

·         The loans extended to SHGs in the flood affected areas should be rescheduled by six months without interest as most of them are being used for agriculture.

·         The Government should supply seed for the upcoming Rabi crop at 75% subsidy.

·         Atleast 50% of the insurance eligibility should be given upfront to all the eligible farmers.

·         The Government should ensure procurement of partly damaged and discoloured paddy, cotton, sugarcane, maize and other horticulture products.

·         In accordance with the recommendations of Shri Bhupinder Singh Hooda committee, a sum not less than Rs 10,000 per acre should be given from the Calamity Relief Fund  to all the farmers including the tenant farmers who lost their crops fully.

·         In all cases of loss of life, a compensation of Rs 5 lakhs shall be paid to the families affected.

·         The Government must take up reconstruction of damaged houses at its cost. The Government with a view to finding long term solution may sanction pucca houses.

·         Suitable compensation for loss of animals and poultry birds should be paid to those affected.

·         The Government should immediately extend relief partly through rations and partly through some monetary compensation to all those rural workers who suffered/continue to suffer loss of employment and consequent loss of income because of floods till such time as they start getting their regular employment.

·         The Government should fully compensate the fishermen who lost their boats and nets during the recent floods.

·         Similarly the government should also compensate the weavers for the loss of their looms and other raw material during the recent floods.

·         Specific allocation of funds should be made both for desilting and for soil restoration of agricultural lands in the flood affected areas.

 You will be happy to know that a large number of our senior Party functionaries and workers have been actively participating in the relief work.

 We shall be grateful to you for timely help.

 With Regards                                                               

                                                                                                                                Yours sincerely

                                                                                                                                                                                                        (Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy)