Karnataka: Congress Government Faces Criticism As Farmers Await For Compensation Amidst Prolonged Drought Crisis

Karnataka farmers, reeling under the weight of a persistent drought, are facing acute financial distress as relief measures get bogged down in delays.

As per reports by Deccan Herald, the state government has declared 223 out of 236 taluks as drought-hit, estimating a colossal crop loss of 48.19 lakh hectares.

As Farmers across the state continue to grapple with severe distress, both state and central governments are yet to provide compensation based on National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) norms.

Compensation, determined by factors like crop type and land, amounts to Rs 8,500 per hectare for rain-fed, Rs 17,000 for irrigated, and Rs 22,500 for perennial crops or agroforestry.

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But as per the norms, farmers can only receive compensation for a maximum of two hectares.

Despite the urgent need for relief, the compensation process has encountered delays.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's earlier announcement of partial compensation of Rs 2,000 on 30 November remains unrealized for many farmers even after one and a half months.

The delay intensifies financial woes for farmers already grappling with the drought's impact on their crops.

When asked, Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda attributed the delay to the verification process, assuring that farmers will receive the second relief installment within days of the state receiving funds from the Union government.

“It takes at least 48 hours to process the payment as the money has to go to the RBI and then come to the farmers’ account. Hence, it will take another couple of days,” he said.

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