Vikram Ditya Sharma/Ferozepur
President Sukhbir Singh Badal today termed the Rs 20,000 per acre compensation for complete destruction of standing paddy crops by chief minister Bhagwant Mann as a cruel joke, which he said had come on the top of complete abandonment of the peasantry during the entire period of the tragic floods in the State.
After visiting the area, Sukhbir assured villagers he would take up their case with the ministry of defence so that an appropriate bundh could be established alongside their lands to save them from flooding.
Speaking about the compensation announced by the state government, Badal said that a compensation of Rs 20,000 per acre is too less for farmers to start afresh. “Not only do they need money to clear their fields of sand but also have to plough them and make them ready for the next wheat crop. They also need certified seed and fertilizers”, said Sukhbir. Adding that Bhagwant Mann is the same chief minister who had assured that he would compensate farmers for goats and even hens but has failed to release an adequate compensation package when needed.
Asserting that the peasantry was distressed and would not be able to get back on its feet for another two years, Sukhbir said that extending a loan waiver to flood affected farmers as well as “khet mazdoors” is the need of the hour. He also demanded that the college fee of wards of all flood affected persons be exempted for one year immediately.
Senior leaders including Sampuran Singh Behak, Rohit Kumar Vohra and Joginder Singh Jindu accompanied the SAD president during his visit to the flood affected villages.