Yet to come to terms with the losses suffered in the devastating floods in 2014, farmers in Jammu district received another rude shock when the state government issued them compensation cheques ranging from a meagre Rs 32 to Rs 113.
Refusing to accept the paltry dole, the farmers returned the cheques saying the PDP-BJP government has “rubbed salt into their wounds”.
Farmers in Saroor village of the Marh tehsil of Jammu district were recently issued cheques of crop compensation ranging from Rs 32 to Rs 113 by the State Agriculture department, after a joint survey conducted by agriculture and revenue officers with regard to damage caused by the September 2014 floods.
“Rs 32 is the minimum and Rs 113 maximum amount being paid as compensation for flood damage caused to crops to the farmers of the area”, farmer Balbir Singh Saini of Sarora said.
Another farmer Mast Ram received a cheque of Rs 32, while widow Bholi Devi got a cheque of Rs 75. Another farmer Shamsher Singh received a cheque of Rs 47.
Farmers and members of the panchayats have registered their protest with authorities and hit out at the government, saying crops worth thousands of rupees were damaged due to hailstorm, rains and floods and they were expecting justice.
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