Thiruvananthapuram: The state government has approved Rs 23.45 crore as rubber production subsidy while playing favoritism politics around rubber. This amount started reaching the farmers’ accounts. The finance minister’s office said all amounts up to February 28 had been released.
The government had a request of 120 crore rupees. Of this, 30 crores had been sanctioned earlier. The government has announced an incentive of Rs 170 per kg. 140 is the current market price. The remaining amount will be given as an incentive by the government. 1.47 lakh farmers have submitted applications to the government. Rubber farmers should apply to their local Rubber Association.
The association will forward the application to the Rubber Board. The rubber board will be inspected and sent to the government. According to the finance department, there is often a delay in paying the amount due to such procedures. The budgetary allocation for subsidy to rubber farmers was increased to Rs 600 crore. Thalassery archdiocese president Mar Joseph Pamplani announced that if the central government intervenes to get Rs 300 for rubber, he will take a positive stand in the election.
