"₹38.60 cr approved for crisis-hit farmers"
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 10 2024: Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Ramnath Thakur informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday that the Government of India has sanctioned a compensatory package of Rs 38.60 crore for farmers in Manipur affected by the ongoing law and order crisis.

This assistance is part of a special relief and rehabilitation package of Rs 209.45 crore approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs in August 2023 .

Responding to questions raised by Inner Manipur MP Dr Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, the minister stated that agriculture is a state subject, but the central government has been implementing various schemes and programmes for the socio-economic uplift of farmers across all states and Union Territories, including Manipur.

These initiatives cover areas such as credit, insurance, income support, infrastructure, crop procurement at minimum support prices, mechanisation, irrigation, organic farming, and digital agriculture.

Dr Bimol had sought details on whether the government had assessed the extent of losses faced by farmers in Manipur due to their inability to work on fields during the crisis and whether measures were being taken to compensate them.

Thakur explained that Rs 31.67 crore out of the sanctioned Rs 38.60 crore has already been released to the Manipur government as per its request.

The minister emphasised that the central government is committed to addressing the needs of affected farmers through its various schemes and the special relief package.

However, he clarified that the implementation of these measures and the disbursement of funds are under the purview of the state government.

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