The state of West Bengal has been severely hit by the devastating cyclone ‘Amphan’ and the farmers of the state have faced huge damages. Keeping in view the deteriorating situation of the farmers, the West Bengal government has decided to extend financial help to the farmers. Around 23.27 lakh farmers will be given Rs 1,500 each. Along with this, 2 lakh betel leaf growers will also be given Rs 5,000 each in order to compensate the heavy losses inflicted by the Cyclone.
Mamata Bannerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, took to twitter to announce the government’s plan of providing financial assistance. “Against an initial estimate of providing assistance to 20 lakh farmers the government has released funds to 23.27 lakh farmers as crop damage assistance. We have also released funds to close to 2 lakh betel vine (pan) farmers,” the chief minister tweeted.
According to the sources, the state government has tried bringing more farmers under the financial assistance coverage than it was expected initially. As Kharif season is approaching in few weeks, nearly one third of the farmers in the state would be benefitting from the financial aid.
Kharif is the biggest season as nearly 72 lakh farmers of West Bengal cultivate Kharif crops. If the affected farmers get the financial help ahead of the season, they would be able to start cultivation on time, as per sources.
The state government would try to send the first allotment under the Krishak Bandhu scheme. Under this scheme, a farmer can get a maximum of Rs 5,000 annually, before the kharif season arrives.
