Question : Increase in Compensation Amount

(a) the minimum amount of compensation fixed by the Government for disaster hit farmers;

(b) whether any provision has been made for increasing the compensation amount in the next financial year for disaster affected States particularly Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh and if so, the details thereof;

(c) the number of livestock lost due to natural calamities during the last three years, State and UT-wise;

(d) whether the owners of these livestock were compensated in any way for the loss of their livestock and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether the Government has taken any steps to educate and spread awareness about the steps to be taken by the people to reduce the loss of livestock in the event of natural calamities and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a) to (e) There are no norms for providing the compensation to farmers for loss of their crops and livestock due to natural calamity under the norms of SDRF.
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However, assistance is provided to the affected farmers from State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) as per laid down procedure. The extant norms inter-alia provide for assistance to the farmers in the form of Agriculture input subsidy (where crop loss is 33% and above) for damage caused to all types agriculture/ horticulture crop areas due to the notified natural disasters only (i.e. cyclone, cloud burst, drought, earthquake, tsunami, flood, hailstorm, landslides, avalanche, fire, pest attack, cold waves/frost). These are Rs. 6,800/- per ha. for rainfed crops areas, Rs. 13,500/- per ha. for assured irrigated areas, subject to minimum assistance not less than Rs.1000 and restricted to sown areas, and Rs. 18,000/- per ha. for all type of perennial crops areas, subject to minimum assistance not less than Rs. 2000/- and restricted to sown areas., where crop loss is more than 33% and above. Similarly, in the case of loss of livestock, assistance is provided for milch animals @ Rs. 30000/ per buffalo / cow/ camel/ yak etc., Rs. 3000/ per sheep/ goats/ pig etc. for draught animal @ Rs. 25000/ per camel/ horse/ bullock etc. and Rs. 16000/ per calf/ donkey/ pony mule. Poultry @ Rs. 50/- per bird subject to a ceiling of assistance of Rs. 5000/ per beneficiary household.

Financial assistance under SDRF/ NDRF in the wake of natural disasters …3/-
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is by way of relief and not for compensation of loss as suffered/ claimed. In addition to regular schemes the farmers are entitled for compensation under the National Agricultural Insurance Scheme of the Ministry of Agriculture, which is being implemented by the concerned State Governments.

Information on compensation/ assistance provided to farmers/ owners of livestock is not maintained by this Ministry, since execution of relief activities on the ground is responsibility of the State concerned through their established channel of district administrative machineries in accordance with the magnitude of the ground situation.

Based on the information received from the States, details of the number of livestock lost due to listed natural calamities including floods/ landslides/ earthquake/ cloudburst/ cyclonic storm etc. during 2012-13 to 2015-16 are given in Annexure.

There are institutional mechanisms at the National and State level for effective management of natural disasters including taking necessary measures to educate people at the time of natural
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calamities which include spreading awareness/ sensitising to people at the State/ District and local Governments level and reduce /minimize the losses during natural disaster including floods in States of the country.

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