SUBSIDY WITHDRAWN: FARMERS COMPLAIN
Officials say farmers as squatters don’t qualify for subsidy
A large population of resettled people in Welgamwehera who depend on agriculture are placed in a predicament due to a decision made by certain senior officials of the District Secretariat to disentitle them to the government fertilizer subsidy scheme. Farmers who cultivated paddy under the Kutkulam irrigation scheme said paddy cultivation in the Maha season was withering away for want of fertilizer. They pointed out that more than 100 families that depended on agriculture were facing the threat of losing their livelihood due to the arbitrarily step taken by the officials.
A paddy cultivator, S.W. Premachandra who settled in Welgamwehera first in 1966 said he cultivated his paddy fields under the Kutkulam irrigation scheme until they left the area during the war. “We were compelled to flee the area leaving all our property to LTTE terrorists. After we were resettled in 2010 we cultivated our paddy fields again and we received fertilizer subsidy for two seasons. However, officials have taken a decision not to issue fertilizer for the Maha season. When we met them they said we were squatters in state land and were not entitled to the fertilizer subsidy. In 1983 the government filed action against several farmers on the same charge, but the judgment was in the favour of the farmers. Now we request the officials to refer to the 1983 judgment in case No.6562.”
Another farmer R.d.wasantha Kumarasiri said, “I have inherited four acres of paddy land from my father. When we came under terrorist attacks, we fled the area leaving all our property. We did not take any documents with us when we ran away for our dear lives. I spent about Rs.80,000 to clear and cultivate my paddy fields after we were resettled in the area. Now the fertiliser subsidy has been denied to us. Four acres of paddy cultivation on the verge of being harvested is shriveling due to the lack of fertilser. The Grama Niladhari issued a letter that I have been cultivating four acres of paddy for a long time, but his recommendation was not entertained.”
M.a.v.dayaratne said he was compelled to sell two milking cows and ten goats to find money to cultivate five acres of paddy. “I am running at a loss due to a depressed yield. If the officials infor med us about their decision earlier, we could have given up paddy cultivation without wasting our hard earned money. My mother and sister were killed by the terrorists, and now we will have to starve due to the arbitrary decisions of the officials who boast about helping resettled people. It is sad that we have been left to the mercy of officials who are not concerned about our well being,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Asst. Commissioner of Agrarian Services, Trincomalee, S.punida Kumar said the farmers concerned were squatters and that they were not entitled to the fertiliser subsidy. “The far mer organisation should have convened a meet-
“In 1983 the government filed action against several farmers
on the same charge, but the judgment was in the favour of the farmers. Now we request the officials to refer to the 1983 judgment in case No.6562”
ing prior to the cultivation season, but they neglected to meet this requirement. The meeting is attended by the Grama Niladharis, and the Agrarian Service Officers. The decisions taken at the meeting are referred to the Divisional Agricultural Committee. The requirements of fertiliser should be decided at the meeting. We are not in a position to issue fertiliser without the recommendation of the Divisional Agricultural Committee. Many of the farmers are squatters. They have obtained fertiliser for paddy fields belonging to others. The legitimate owners of paddy field are entitled to the fertiliser subsidy without any obstacle.”