The farmers should be compensated quickly so that they have some money for the next plantation season
The government's decision to provide compensation to the farmers whose paddy was destroyed by the unseasonal rains in mid-October is welcome news, but the question is how soon can the farmers get it and without much hassle? In October, paddy grown on more than 150,000 hectares of land, or about 10 per cent under paddy cultivation in the country, was fully or partially damaged by three days of torrential unusual rains, especially in Sudurpaschim Province. The damage to paddy, which contributes 7 per cent to the country's gross domestic product, has been estimated at Rs 12 billion. In the aftermath of the rain-induced floods, landslides and inundation, a cabinet meeting had approved a relief package of Rs 5.52 billion for the farmers. And the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development had said that a guideline would be formulated for the identification of the farmers and relief distribution criteria. But it's been more than seven weeks since the natural disaster occurred, and the farmers are not sure if they will be compensated given the dillydallying by the government, the paperwork involved and the procedural formalities.
According to the criteria posted on the website of the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, the affected farmers have been divided into three categories – small, medium and big – and they will be compensated accordingly. Smallholder farmers, holding upto 10 katthas of land, whose crop has been completely destroyed, will be paid 65 per cent of the production cost, while the government will meet 30 per cent of the production cost of medium farmers, who hold more than 10 katthas but not exceeding 3 bighas of land. The large farmers with land holdings larger than three bighas will be provided 20 per cent of the production cost. However, partially affected farmers in all categories will receive a compensation amounting to 20 per cent of the production cost. As per the government website, the relief amount to be provided to the farmers affected by the unseasonal rainfall shall be no more than Rs 55,000.
The relief package might be one of the largest ever doled out to the farmers by the government, but the compensation is a paltry sum, considering the amount of damage caused by the heavy rains. The floods and landslides had also killed more than 100 people in different districts, while submerging settlements in water for days. Still if the farmers could be compensated as early as possible so that they have some money for the next plantation season, that would be a big relief to them. Much would depend on how quickly and efficiently the local levels can carry out their responsibilities of collecting the ward-wise details of the damage to paddy and issue a public notice asking the affected farmers to submit the necessary documents, such as, landownership certificate, bank account and extent of the damage caused. This sure looks like it is going to take some time. Since natural disasters are going to be a recurring phenomenon, the government must introduce a crop insurance policy, and the farmers must also take the initiative to insure their crops so that they have something to look up to in the case of adverse weather conditions.
Avoidable death
It is distressing to note that women in rural parts of the country are still dying of pregnancy-related complications, mainly because they do not visit the nearest health centres or regularly consult doctors or health assistants during their pregnancy. Despite spending billions of rupees by the government on maternal healthcare and childbirth, women still prefer to give birth at home, putting a big risk to their life.
A report from remote Bajura district states that a 21-year-old pregnant woman died of excessive bleeding after giving birth to a stillborn baby at home. Her husband said his wife had complained of stomach pain when she returned from the forest.
Had she been rushed to a health post on time, her life could have been saved. Doctors said it was her second baby. It shows that she got married at a very tender age, and she was not physically fit for childbearing.
It has also been revealed that she had gone to a health centre only three times during her pregnancy.
Getting married at an early age is sure to cause many unseen health complications, leading even to the death of pregnant women in most cases. Local health centres must raise an awareness campaign among the rural folks to save the lives of pregnant women.
A version of this article appears in the print on December 09, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
