Nilam-hit farmers on warpath for relief

Palakole: Farmers cutting across party lines gathered in large numbers blind-folded in front of the local Tahsil office on Tuesday to protest the government failure to provide relief to the farmers hit by Nilam cyclone last year. Nilam cyclone wrought havoc in the State last year by destroying crops ready for harvest in lakhs of hectares. As usual, the politicians of all hues toured the affected areas and promised compensation to the affected farmers. While farmers demanded Rs 10,000 compensation per acre, the government had come out with a promise of Rs 10,000 compensation per hectare. The revenue officials conducted enumeration of the crop loss. Later, the officials as well as people's representatives came out with lame excuses like delay in the enumeration process of crop loss and not receiving bank account details of all farmers. They promised to release compensation as soon as the process was complete. Unfortunately, the process is yet to complete. Meanwhile, the farmers were exploited to the hilt by the revenue officials and cooperative bank officials by promising help to get them loans. The revenue staff at the lower level reportedly collected Rs 300 from each affected farmer promising loans. The farmers who were expecting compensation in the hope that it can be used for raising second crop were disillusioned with the inordinate delay in the process of releasing compensation and resorted to agitation. The farmer activists, speaking on the occasion, underlined the need for unity among them above party lines to get their demands solved. They demanded the government to release compensation to the Nilam-hit farmers as promised by the government without further delay. They submitted a memorandum to the Tahsildar under the leadership of Rythu Sangham leader Nimmala Ramanayudu in this regard.