Srinagar,June 9:-Expressing concern over massive devastation caused to standing crops and orchards due to insistent hail storm coupled with gushy wind thunders in Khansahib , Budgam and some other areas of the valley , Chairman Peoples Democratic Front ,(PDF) and former minister Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen has demanded a comprehensive relief package for the affected farmers besides providing them free ration for next 12 months.
In a statement issued on Tuesday Hakeem said that hailstorm storm coupled with thunder storm , persistently from last month , in various areas of Kashmir valley including Khansahib Budgam has wreaked havoc with the current year’s agriculture produce causing a serious below to the livelihood of the farmers. He has urged the government to come to the rescue of the hailstorm hit farming community of the valley and provide them cash assistant besides free ration. He said destruction caused to the agricultural produce by the hailstorm has made farmers and fruit traders totally bankrupt adding that the affected farmers are not in the position to repay thier Kissan credit loans and instalments of other bank credits. He said now that current kharif season too have ended , peasants are not able to cultivate alternate crops .
PDF Chairman said if hail storm affected farmers are not provided cash assistant immediately , they may die of starvation . ” Keeping in view the grim financial position of the affected farmers , government should provide free ration to the affected farmers , at least for 12 months besides monthly cash assistant,” Hakeem Yaseen added. He has also demanded to waive off KCC loans immediately so that farmers could have a sigh of relief in the face of grim economic conditions.
Hakeem said authorities at the helm of affairs should come out of ivory towers and go through the ground situation so that affected farmers are provided timely relief and succour. He said , if adequate relief measures are not taken in hand on emergency basis , there are apprehensions that the worst affected farmers may go for suicide.
