Centre hasn't given a single rupee for farmers' relief: UP

Uttar Pradesh government today claimed that the Centre has not yet released a single rupee for farmers' relief, a day after Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh asked the state to immediately distribute among farmers Rs 506 given to it for disaster relief.
"Against the demand of Rs 2,500 crore from the state for relief of farmers, Centre has not yet released a single rupee. Rs 506 crore, which the Home Minister is talking about was of 2014 for drought between July and September last year," senior cabinet minister Shivpal Yadav told PTI.
He alleged that the Centre was showing "false dreams and making false promises" to the common man and was not "serious" about compensating the affected farmers.

"For the farmers, who died over losses due to rains and hailstorm, the state government is giving Rs 5 lakh including the Centre's share of Rs 1.5 lakh, which is yet to be received," he said.
Taking potshots at union ministers touring the state to assess farmers' losses, Yadav said, "They are not doing anything concrete for the farmers, only misleading them by not releasing a single rupee."
He said that the UP government has arranged Rs 1,135 crore for farmers' relief, of which Rs 440 crore has been disbursed, and advised the Centre to release the relief money and "show sensitivity towards farmers instead of misleading them."

"As per our analysis, farmers of 65 districts were affected by unseasonal rains. Central teams assessed and concluded that losses are to the tune of Rs 1,100 crore and recommended relief of Rs 744.28 crore to the state. But the Centre has not given even a single rupee," Yadav claimed.

Last year, the state government had demanded Rs 4,794.89 crore for drought relief but the Centre had only given Rs 490 crore, he said, adding that this shows the Centre's "apathetic attitude" towards Uttar Pradesh.
Asked about reports of corruption in the process of distributing relief to farmers, Yadav said strict action would be initiated against those found guilty.

"Directives have been issued to complete the work with full devotion and sensitivity," he added.