Odisha Govt announced special package

Government of Odisha announced a special package for farmers, fishermen, weavers and students affected by cyclone ‘Phailin’ and the resultant floods on Monday.

As per the decision, a farmer in the calamity-hit area will get at least Rs 2,000 as compensation while Rs 16,500 would be given for loss of milch cow or buffalo.

Fishermen who lost their boats will get Rs 3,000. Students till Standard 10 would be given two sets of uniforms and textbooks, besides exemption of tuition and examination fees.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced an agriculture input subsidy of Rs 4,500 per hectare for rain-fed areas and Rs 9,000 per hectare in assured irrigated areas.

Rs 12,000 per hectare has been earmarked for all types of perennial crops restricted to sown areas. Perennial crops include mango, cashew, coconut, kewra and betel vines, the release stated.

Crop loans during Rabi season would be made available for affected farmers at the rate of 5 per cent interest with the same to be reduced to 2 per cent in case of timely repayment, the release added.

Farmers will not be treated as defaulters for non- repayment of existing loans and short-term crop loans advanced during Kharif season would be converted to medium-term loans repayable over a three-year period.

Affected fishermen would be given Rs 3,000 for repair of partially damaged boats and Rs 1,500 for repairing damaged nets. Rs 7,000 would be paid for replacement of fully-damaged boats while Rs 1,850 is to be given for replacing fishing nets, the release said.

Similarly, for the handicraft and handloom sector, Rs 3,000 per artisan would be given for the replacing of tools and equipment while Rs 3,000 per artisan would be extended for loss of raw materiale, the statemnt added.