The farmers who had lost everything in the unseasonal rainfall of November 2021, have not received any compensation till date. They have been lamenting for the loss which has not been addressed by the government even after months of the disaster.
The farmers had appealed to the District Administration Office Jumla and the District Disaster Management Committee, however, the relief has not been provided yet.
The facts state that the unseasonal rainfall had destroyed Marsi paddy harvested in 1,876 Kattha of land which belonged to 1,112 farmers of Tila and Tatopani Rural Municipality.
Ram Krishna Neupane, a farmer of Litakot village in Tatopani Rural Municipality-3, said that there is a sign of extinction of Marsi paddy, which is known as the crop grown at the highest altitude.
He shared, “The seeds of Kalimarsi paddy were also washed away by the floods. However, it is unfortunate that the farmers have not received relief and compensation so far.”
Chief District Officer of Jumla, Bijaya Kumari Prasain said that the District Administration Office Jumla had asked for NPR 1,935,465 but have received just NPR 500,000 from the government.
She further said, “The amount provided was less than the damage therefore it has not been used.”
Chief District Officer Prasai said, “When the money sent by the Ministry of Home Affairs is distributed, the farmers will get only NPR 412 each. We cannot send such a small amount to the farmer’s account. We are concerned about either sending the money or freezing the budget. Even if we send the money, it will not even cover a day’s meal of the farmers.”
She said that they were waiting for the additional amount as they had taken the initiative to ask it with the Karnali Province Government. “If the province government helps, we will jointly provide it to the farmers,” she added.
Seven Died from Disaster in the Last One Year in Jumla
According to the District Administration Office of Jumla, seven people have died due to disaster in the current fiscal year.
According to the statistics, one person died in Patarasi, one in Hima, three in Tatopani due to the flood caused by the unseasonal rainfall, and two from Tatopani died due to an avalanche.
Chief District Officer Prasai said that relief of NPR 200,000 was provided to six of the families of the victims and NPR 100,000 was provided to one of them.
According to the District Disaster Management Committee, Jumla, a relief amount of NPR 25,000 was immediately provided to 89 households and 12 households were provided NPR 20,000.
The drinking water project was immediately started by providing 15,191 meters of pipes for the operation of a drinking water project in Tila and Tatopani damaged by unseasonal rainfall.
The Netrajyoti Higher Secondary School, Hanku was destroyed by the flood. The school has been brought into operation in its playground by managing the necessary materials with the help of security bodies and social organizations.
According to the District Administration Office, Jumla, the physical infrastructure damaged by the disaster has been prepared and a detailed report of roads, irrigation, school buildings and watermills have been prepared and sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Karnali Province Government.