Central funds sought for giving livestock to delta ryots

Addressing newspersons, Radhakrishnan said people in four delta districts of Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur and Pudukkottai have lost countless livestock in the cyclone.

“To ensure that they earn some revenue, the government will distribute livestock under the existing scheme. For this purpose, we have demanded extra funds from the Central Government. They have replied that our proposal is under their consideration,” the minister said.

According to him, 12,000 cows, 70,000 goats and 3.5 lakh chicken died in the cyclone that wreaked havoc last month. “The distribution of compensation for the dead livestock is under way and will be completed in a month’s time,” said Radhakrishnan.

While Rs 30,000 is being given to farmers who have lost their cattle, Rs 3,000 and Rs 100 has been fixed for every goat/sheep and chicken lost respectively.

He also said that most of the people who lost their livestock are those living below the poverty line and hence, the government had to act fast to provide them with assistance.

“Four goats or two cattle or 50 country chickens will be given to every person affected in the cyclone,” said Radhakrishnan, adding that he along with the department secretary would visit New Delhi in the coming week to meet the Union Minister concerned and press for funds.

Farmers condemn upper ceiling for compensation
The farmers, who have lost their coconut trees in cyclone Gaja, have criticised the State Government for fixing an upper ceiling of 700 trees while extending compensation.    V Veerasenan of Ponnavarayankottai said the government has set an upper ceiling of 700 trees for giving assistance to farmers for their crop loss, while also fixing Rs 7.75 lakh as the maximum amount payable to each farmer. Meanwhile, P R Pandian, the president of Tamil Nadu All farmers association, decried the efforts to reduce the total number of trees uprooted due to the cyclone. “While it was earlier officially announced that 79 lakh coconut trees were uprooted in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Pudukkottai districts, a new set of numbers has listed only 41.34 lakh trees as damaged in ten districts across the state,” he said, adding that funds released for these trees was only at the rate of Rs 600 per tree and not Rs 1,100 as announced.