Expressing his deep concern on the continued heavy rains and lashing of sleet in the upper regions of the Kashmir Valley, especially in Kulgam district, M Y Tarigami, CPM leader and MLA strongly urged the administration to assess the losses and come out with and early and comprehensive relief package for the affected farmers and fruit growers. In a statement issued to KNS on Monday, Tarigami reiterated his demand for revising the recently announced Crop Insurance Scheme, so that the farmers are not left at the mercy of the vagaries of natural calamities. He referred to the recent government announcement regarding the Crop Insurance Scheme and said that it is a mere eyewash and will not prove beneficial to the farming community. In this half baked scheme, there is no mention of the crops to be insured and the premium for the rabi and horticulture crops is very high. In addition the losses suffered by the inclement weather in early spring by the fruit growers have not been covered under the proposed scheme. The proposal that only 10% of the total land under cultivation would be brought under the scheme during the current financial year also amounts to negligible benefit to the farming community. Tarigami hoped that the new govt. will pay special attention to this burning issue. (KNS)