J-K govt relaxes norms for compensation to farmers

The Jammu and Kashmir government today eased the procedure for seeking compensation by the farmers and fruit growers for their crop-damage due to natural calamities, by making certain changes in the norms of State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF).
"The cabinet meeting that was chaired by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today decided to ease the procedure of seeking compensation by the farmers and fruit growers whose crop gets damage due to natural calamities. Now a farmer can seek compensation if his crop suffers a damage of 33 per cent, earlier it was 50 per cent," Minister for Education Naeem Akhtar told reporters here.

He said that following the recent unprecedented rainfall across the state, farmers and fruits-growers have suffered huge losses and the government would soon conduct a survey and would initiate the process of giving compensation to them.
"The government has also revised the rate of compensation and now the farmers and fruit growers will get increased compensation for the crop-loss," he said.
Akhtar said that the government has also decided to make certain changes in the state recruitment policy and has empowered the deputy commissioners in every district to employ qualified applicants on various positions.
"The government has empowered the deputy commissioners in every district to recruit qualified and eligible applicants in the district, the only consideration would be merit and nothing else," he said.