Chandigarh, Oct 1 (NationPress) In a significant move to support farmers impacted by recent floods, Haryana's Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has declared a suspension on crop loan repayments and a complete waiver on tubewell electricity bills until the end of December.

This initiative is expected to benefit around 300,000 farmers.

During a press briefing, the Chief Minister revealed that the government has used the e-Kshatipurti portal to transfer Rs 4.72 crore to 2,386 individuals whose homes and belongings were damaged, along with livestock losses due to the floods. This compensation comprises Rs 4.67 crore for house damages and Rs 4.21 lakh for cattle losses.

According to the Chief Minister, a total of 5.37 lakh farmers across 6,397 villages have registered on the e-Kshatipurti portal for crop damage assessments. Once verified, these farmers will receive Rs 15,000 per acre in compensation.

“In areas where flood damage exceeds 50% of crops, and where farmers have faced crop losses of 33% or more, the recovery of current Kharif crop loans from cooperative societies has been delayed,” he noted.

“Additionally, farmers will receive new crop loans for the upcoming Rabi season,” the CM added.

As of September 30, the state has received five lakh metric tons of paddy, with 3.58 lakh metric tons already procured.

Farmers have seen approximately Rs 109 crore deposited into their accounts.

“Similarly, 187.30 metric tons of millet have been procured by agencies, with 4,970 metric tons purchased by traders,” the CM stated.

“We will ensure farmers receive the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 2,775 per quintal for millet. Any discrepancy in the price at which millet is bought by state agencies will be compensated,” he said.

In another announcement, Rs 404.79 crore was allocated to the Panchayati Raj Institutions in the state as part of the second installment, benefiting 5,719 Panchayats, 144 Panchayat Samitis, and three Zila Parishads.

“Over the last four years, we have disbursed Rs 3,700 crore to Panchayati Raj Institutions for development initiatives. We also launched the Deendayal Lado Laxmi Yojana on September 25, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay. In just six days, 171,946 women have registered on the Lado Laxmi App,” concluded CM Saini.