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The Union Cabinet today gave its approval for sanctioning the payment of compensation to the farmers of Andaman & Nicobar Islands in place of subsidy for loss of crops due to Tsunami at an additional cost of Rs. 70.28 crores as given below :
- Special package of compensation for loss of Paddy/Vegetable crops / Root Crops for Rs. 9.67 crore
Special compensation package for loss of plantation crops for Rs. 60.61 crore
The Cabinet had earlier considered the proposal of the Ministry of Home Affairs for providing a Special Package for Relief and Rehabilitation in the Tsunami affected areas in the mainland as well as Andaman & Islands. The Cabinet in its meeting held in January,2005 approved the package, named as “Rajiv Gandhi Rehabilitation Package for Tsunami Affected Areas” for the mainland States of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and UT of Pondicherry for an amount of Rs. 2731.04 crore. The Cabinet, in its meeting held in February, 2005 also approved the Relief & Rehabilitation package for Andaman & Nicobar for an amount of Rs. 821.88 crore. Besides, for the Rehabilitation of Agriculture and Reclamation of Soils damaged by Tsunami in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, the Central Government also approved a package of Rs. 239.54 crore.
However, the farmers in Andaman & Nicobar Islands have lost their entire paddy/vegetable/ horticulture crops and there was no alternative source of income left. Therefore, these farmers need to be further compensated appropriately to enable them to sustain their families during the period till the next crop starts giving income.
This Cabinet decision will help the affected farmers to sustain their families during the period till the next crop starts generating income and regain livelihood.
The implementation and monitoring of the package will be done by the Ministry of Agriculture.
YSR/DS/LV
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