FARMER'S LETTER: FOR RAMPANT CORRUPTION IN LOSS ASSESSMENT FOR CROPS DAMAGE AND DISTRIBUTION OF COMPENSATION TO THE FARMERS, ACTUATED BY CONSPIRACY BETWEEN PATWARI AND OTHER CONCERNED SENIOR OFFICERS OF REVENUE DEPARTMENT.

To,

1.     The Chief Secretary to Govt. of Haryana,

Vigilance Department, Chandigarh.

2.     Director General

 State Vigilance Bureau, Haryana.

Plot No. C-10, Sector – 6, Panchkula, Haryana.

DATED: 25.11.2015, Through Speed Post

SUBJECT: RAMPANT CORRUPTION IN LOSS ASSESSMENT FOR CROPS DAMAGE AND DISTRIBUTION OF COMPENSATION TO THE FARMERS, ACTUATED BY CONSPIRACY BETWEEN PATWARI AND OTHER CONCERNED SENIOR OFFICERS OF REVENUE DEPARTMENT.

Respected Sir,

1.     I am an Ex-Serviceman and about 80 years old farmer; doing farming after retirement; in my five acre land opposite to Kamal Filling Station, Karnal Road, situated in  khewat no. 13/11 and khasara no. 43/24, 52/1/10, 53/4/5 in the revenue estate of Gadar Patti, Kaithal. My family’s livelihood depends on the harvest of crop and pension; as my only son is also mentally disturbed and unable to do any work.

2.     That through this letter I want to show how difficult it is to get compensation for crop damages, without giving bribe to the Patwari and other concerned revenue officers. The farmers like me whose livelihood depends on the successful harvest of the crop cannot bear the double loss, firstly by natural calamity and secondly by corruption calamity.

3.     That the unseasonal rainfall and hailstorm had extensively damaged my wheat crop. I and my neighbours sharing boundary with my agriculture land had sought the compensation for damage to my wheat crop. Mr. Ram Sharan, Patwari had demanded the 50% of total compensation amount to be paid for giving favourable assessment of loss to crops. Being a retired Air Force Officer I refused to share the compensation amount with the Patwari and requested him to carry out the actual loss assessment.

4.     That I am surprised to see that my neighbour Ram Mehar (the owner of land with Khasara No. 52/11/1. 53/6/7/14/15) sharing boundary with my agriculture land situated in same khewat, i.e., 13/11, got the compensation for damage to the crop, but despite series of representations and personal visits to the revenue office, I have been completely deprived of compensation. What kind of justice is it?   ha

5.     That when I asked Patwari the reason of not recommending compensation for loss to my crop, he replied that his senior officers, i.e., kanungo, tehsildar etc. demand money in for each recommendation of compensation, but as I had refused to share compensation; therefore his senior officers did not agree to recommend compensation to me. However, the neighbours to my land had shared the 50% compensation with the revenue officers; they had got compensation.

It is very unfortunate that the assessment of loss of crops solely depends on the whims and fancies of patwari and other concerned senior revenue officers. And, crop damage assessment by patwari is based on  sharing of 50% compensation amount with the revenue officers, in the way of bribe.

6.     That the field revenue agency , i.e. Patwari, kanungo, tehsildar etc. in assessing the crop damage and distribution of crop compensation to the farmers has bungled inasmuch as they had got compensation for those who had not suffered any loss to crops. All rampant corruption is actuated by criminal conspiracy between the Revenue officers to get illegal monetary benefits out of the compensation money to different beneficiaries.

7.     That the institution of patwari is corrupt and functions in a partisan way.  And, farmers are hostage to the archaic system of girdawari (crop inspection) report by patwari - the lowest-rung revenue official. These reports are used by the government to decide compensation to be paid to the farmers for damaged crops.

8.     That I read in the newspapers that a panel headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Kuldeep Singh (retd) had also observed that the institution of patwaris was infamous for being highly corrupt.

9.     That I had given a detailed representation to the Chief Minister, Haryana for granting compensation to me for loss to my crops, which is attached herewith. Though, in the representation to the Chief Minister, I had restrained myself from complaining against any individual officer; for indulging in corruption; as I did not want to spoil career of any public servant, but I am constrained to send this representation; because on my visit to the Revenue Office I’m taunted and laughed at for getting nothing despite series of representations. Further I’m made to understand that the senior officers will not take any action; ‘as they also get their own share of corruption’

Therefore, in view of the aforesaid facts and circumstances, please do justice to me, by getting investigated the rampant corruption in the loss assessment for crops damage and distribution of compensation to the farmers, by independent agency. It is specifically requested that the investigation/enquiry should not be get conducted by the officers of revenue department; as all are, directly or indirectly, the beneficiaries of the corruption.

DATED: 25.11.2015     (BALWANT RAJ S/o BUDH RAM)

                                              R/o Gali No. 2, Amargarh Gamari,

Kaithal - 136027