Karlamunda: Owing to scanty rainfall during the 2020 kharif season, scores of farmers were affected by drought in Karlmunda block of Kalahandi district. To compound their woes, most of them have not been able to avail of crop insurances as their names have not been included in the drought-affected list due to faulty survey.
According to a report, hectares of farmland in the block were not watered properly due to insufficient rainfall. As a result, the paddy wilted and crops were damaged. Farmers also informed that water of the Uttei canal was not available for them when the crop required it.
The crops were covered under insurance. Some areas were exempted from drought-affected places during the survey, they said.
“The result is that farmers in those areas have been deprived of insurance,” alleged Narottam Selma, president of Krushak Kalyan Manch.
Selma and Krushak Kalyan Manch’s secretary Suresh Choudhary observed that there has been no clear-cut picture how the areas were identified as drought-hit ones.
They said affected farmers tried to get data about the drought survey report from officials of Agriculture and Revenue departments. However, it was not provided.
Unofficial sources claimed that villages such as Rinjha, Sargul Malpada, Joradabra, Sapalahara and Teresingha panchayats were included in the list of drought-affected areas..
Farmers alleged that the Pourakela panchayat, where crops also suffered much damage, was axed from the list of drought-affected areas.
Farmers of some villages in Rishida, Karlamunda and Gajabahal panchayats were hit by the drought, but they were deprived of insurance. There are some who have received the insurance amount, but it is peanuts compared to the amount promised. The affected farmers have urged the district administration to come to their help.
PNN