Rs 2 as compensation for crop damage in Haryana

CHANDIGARH: Rs 2 as compensation for crop damage? Yes, that is what one of the Green Revolution states, Haryana, is offering its farmers as compensation for crop damaged during 2011 rains.
TOI is in possession of cheques for such amounts issued to farmers by the Haryana government as damages to farmers.
The crops, mainly wheat, were damaged due to waterlogging following heavy rains in 2011.Following this, the state government had ordered a special survey to assess the losses. However, after the survey and almost two years' wait, several farmers received compensation cheques of modicum amounts.
Satyanarayan and Tekchand, residents of Paharipur village in Jhajjar district, were given Rs 2 and Rs 3 respectively as compensation for their damaged crop.
A resident of Paharipur village, Vijender Singh, 40, who received a cheque of Rs 30, told TOI on Tuesday that several farmers have decided not to claim the amount as they would have to open a bank account to claim the paltry sum. "Even photocopy of the cheque costs more than the compensation amount. Not only this, for a bank account, we have to go to the nearby town and we have to pay more travel charges than the compensation money," he said.
"The rains had damaged wheat in 2.5 acres of our land. Now, each of the six members in the family has received Rs 30 as compensation," said Ranbir Singh, 50, another farmer from the same village.
"My nephew Sandeep and his five family members got cheques for Rs 6 each as damages for the wheat crop in one acre," he claimed.
Ramkishan, 60, explained the problems being faced by farmers in claiming the compensation amount even for bank account holders. "My sister Prem, who is married in Hui village in Bhiwani district, got a cheque for Rs 500. But the bank officials returned the cheque stating that she had mentioned her husband's name in the account while in the cheque, her father's name is mentioned." Ramkishan said they have decided not to realize the cheque as a new bank account would cost Rs 500.
The state government claimed that compensation has been distributed at Rs 35,00 per acre. However, farmers alleged that revenue officials have given compensation to a very small portion of their land from the total area of damaged crops. "Our family got compensation for just two acres while the rains had damaged crops in 6.5 acres," alleged Ramkishan.
Senior INLD leader and MLA from Ellenabad, Abhay Singh Chautala, has termed it a cruel joke on the farmers. However, chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said his government had been giving highest compensation to farmers in the country.
An official spokesperson said Rs 1.14 crore has been distributed to farmers in 3,365 acres of land in Jhajjar district.