Jharkhand Agriculture Minister Responds to Cyclone Montha Damage with Insurance and Compensation Solutions

Ranchi: State agriculture minister Shilpi Neha Tirkey on Saturday said she has asked for a detailed report on the crop damage in Jharkhand because of Cyclone Montha. She also noted that different task forces have been set up to submit an assessment report on this in the next few days.On Saturday, Tirkey visited Deoghar to take stock of the damage done to paddy and other crops. She also toured Rampur village under the Jiyakhara panchayat of Sarwan block to assess the situation and spoke to several farmers.She said, “I also went to the fields with the farmers to get a reality check.” Informing that about 13 lakh farmers in the state have been registered under Birsa Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, the minister said, “Assessment of crop damage for farmers who are covered will be started by the insurance company.

In Deoghar district, about 2.5 lakh farmers have registered for crop insurance this time.”Farmers, who do not have crop insurance, can apply for Rs 3000 per acre from the disaster management fund. “They can avail this benefit by applying at the block office. Farmers can also provide information about their crop damage by calling the toll-free number 14447,” Tirkey said, highlighting that departmental officials have been directed to form a task force and prepare data of the affected farmers in the next three to four days.

“This is a natural disaster. Neither the farmers nor any govt has control over it. But our govt is sensitive towards farmers and committed to providing them compensation benefits,” she said.