Bhubaneswar: The Odisha chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, Wednesday announced a special package for the people affected by cyclone ‘Titli’ and the subsequent floods. He said that short-term Kharif loans advanced in the affected areas during Kharif 2018 having crop loss of 33 per cent and above shall be converted into medium-term (conversion) loans.
The cyclone ‘Titli’ that hit the Odisha coast on October 11 and the following flood due to heavy downpour has caused large scale devastation in the southern parts of the state.
The chief minister said that farmers will get Rs 13, 500 per hectare in areas under assured irrigation and Rs 18,000 per hectare for all types of perennial crops like mango, cashew, coconut, kewra and betel vine. Some 20,000 hectares of plantation crops affected by cyclone ‘Titli’ will be rejuvenated along with support for inter-cropping package for three years.
The small and marginal farmers those have sustained crop loss of 33% and above in rein fed / non-irrigated areas will get agriculture input subsidy at Rs 6,800 per hectare, said Patnaik.
During the Rabi season, two lakh special mini-kits, including 1.20 lakh pulses-kits, 30,000 oilseed mini-kits, and 50,000 vegetable seed-kits will be supplied to the cyclone-affected farmers.
Naveen announced that financial assistance of Rs 60,000 per boat and Rs 15,000 per fishing net will be provided for fully and partially damaged boats and nets of marine and Chilka fishermen.
School fees and examination fees up to the High School in government schools shall be waived in the affected areas. Besides, two pairs of school uniforms as well as textbooks shall be provided to children up to elementary school level in the affected areas.
