Delhi CM declares relief for farmers hit by hail, rain

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said his government has decided to give compensation to farmers in the national capital who have lost their crops due to hailstorm and unseasonal rain.

Addressing a “kisan mahapanchayat” in northwest Delhi’s Kanjhawala area, the chief minister said the compensation will be provided later this year after an assessment report is received from the divisional commissioner about the loss suffered by the farmers. “We will give compensation to those farmers who have lost their crops due to hailstorm and unseasonal rain earlier this year,” he said.

A senior government official said the quantum of compensation would be decided on the basis of the assessment report from the divisional commissioner.

Last year, the Kejriwal government had paid Rs 50,000 per hectare/Rs 20,000 per acre to farmers who suffered losses due to unseasonal rains and hailstorm. “Through this platform, I want to tell you that our government will give you the same compensation which you had received last year,” Mr Kejriwal said while addressing the rally amidst cheers.

He said 95 per cent of the farmers were affected and they all received their compensation cheques.

Terming as “insult” the compensation amount of “just Rs500” reportedly paid to a farmer by the Haryana government, Mr Kejriwal said “Farmers are not beggars, it’s an insult. They need to understand the importance of a farmer. The day they stop doing their job, all these politicians will die of hunger”.

He said by compensating the farmers, AAP government is not doing any favour. “We also gave Rs 30,000 per hectare as compensation, but we didn’t do a favour. Your problems are our problems,” he said.

Listing out the achievements of his government, he said before he came to power, the cost of electricity in Delhi was high.