Amidst the tapestry of challenges faced by the agrarian community, Chief Minister N Biren orchestrated the allocation of fiscal redress to those tillers unable to sow the seeds of paddy or partake in rural pursuits during the preceding year, a period marred by violent conflict.
The disbursement of financial solace, delineated under the ‘Compensatory Package for Farmers Affected by Violence,’ unfolded within the opulent confines of the Durbar Hall at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat during the twilight hours.
During the ceremonial address, Chief Minister N Biren Singh articulated that a total of 3,483 cultivators would be the beneficiaries of the compensatory disbursement, aggregating a sum of Rs. 18.37 crore earmarked for the initial phase.
The imprimatur of the Ministry of Home Affairs endorsed the State Government’s plea for a financial allocation amounting to Rs. 38.6 crore to assuage the plight of farmers beset by adversities, as expounded by the Chief Minister.
The tragic specter of violent conflict unfurled its somber cloak on May 3, 2023, casting its baleful shadow over the collective consciousness.
In the wake of the turmoil, as swathes of farmlands lay fallow, the State Government embarked on a multifaceted approach to resuscitate agricultural endeavors, extending a helping hand to beleaguered farmers.
With the strategic deployment of state security forces in precarious zones, a cadre of farmers managed to till their fields and nurture the growth of paddy, recounted Biren.
Regrettably, a staggering 5,901 farmers found themselves compelled to suspend all agricultural activities due to the upheaval that pervaded the previous year.
The Agriculture Department’s scrutiny revealed that approximately 5,127 hectares of arable land remained fallow, an unfortunate consequence of the unprecedented violence that besieged the state.
Of the 5,901 scrutinized farmers under the aegis of the vigilant Deputy Commissioners, 19 were invalidated due to duplicity, while an additional 2,399 encountered Aadhaar authentication failure, necessitating their return for meticulous re-verification.
Thus, the mantle of the initial phase enveloped the remaining 3,483 farmers, a cohort diversely distributed across various districts and quantum of compensation.
Chief Minister Biren underscored that the subsequent phase of disbursement would be undertaken upon the culmination of the comprehensive re-verification process.
Among the beneficiaries, the 3,483 farmers embraced individuals from diverse locales, with a nuanced breakdown revealing figures such as 199 from Imphal West (Rs. 120.68 lakh), 360 from Imphal East (Rs. 232.79 lakh), and varying numbers from other districts, each tethered to their unique compensation corpus.
In attendance at this consequential convocation were dignitaries including Agriculture Minister Thongam Biswajit, Water Resources Minister Awangbow Newmai, and Education Minister Th Basanta Kumar, along with legislative representatives and key government functionaries. The event marked a collective endeavor to assuage the adversities borne by the agrarian backbone of the region.
