Par'l panel for central aid to farmers in cyclone-prone zone

Noting "apathy" of the government towards small and marginal farmers living in cyclone-prone coastal areas, a parliamentary panel has recommended to the Centre to give special package to them in terms of financial assistance to mitigate their sufferings.
In a report tabled in Lok Sabha today, the Committee on Petitions, headed by BJP MP Bhagat Singh Koshyari, also recommended the Ministry of Rural Development to make efforts to revamp Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) in a time-bound manner with specific target dates and their strict adherence for ameliorating difficulties being faced by such farmers.
"The Committee are constrained to note the apathy of the Government towards towards small and marginal farmers living in cyclone-prone coastal areas, for not formulating any comprehensive policy for giving giving special package to them for construction of cyclone and fire-proof houses.

"The Committee strongly recommends that the small and marginal farmers living in disaster-prone coastal areas and whose dwelling units are destroyed due to recurrence of natural calamities should be given special package in terms of financial assistance for construction of houses to mitigate their problems/sufferings," the report said.
The panel also noted that the ministry is in the process of revamping IAY based on the stated objectives of the Government to provide 'Housing for All By 2022'.
The proposal envisages covering all the houseless and households living in dilapidated houses in rural areas.