Siddarth Sethia
*Immediate Assistance from Our Government, Considering Farmers’ Distress.
*Losses Estimated at Over Rs.40,000 Crore;Final Relief Amount to Be Decided After Central Team’s Assessment: DyCM.
The State Government has decided to provide an input subsidy of ₹2,500 to each farmer in the first phase to extend immediate assistance to farmers affected by drought.
Around 45 to 50 lakh farmers will benefit from this assistance,at an estimated cost of around ₹1,250 crore to the State exchequer.
Although NDRF assistance from the Union Government is awaited,our Government is providing immediate relief considering the distress faced by farmers,Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister,Dr.G.Parameshwara said.
Speaking to the media near his residence in Sadashivanagar today, he said the State Government is already extending various forms of assistance to farmers.
Around Rs.22,000 crore is being provided as power subsidy to supply free electricity to agricultural pump sets.
The first-phase assistance of ₹1,250 crore is not a small amount. Further measures will be taken in the coming days based on the relief received from the Union Government,he said.
The total loss caused by drought in the State is likely to exceed ₹40,000 crore.
The first memorandum has already been submitted to the Union Government,and additional memoranda will be submitted in the coming days.
After preparing the final estimate of the total loss,the State will submit to the Centre the amount of relief required under the NDRF guidelines,he said.
Dr.Parameshwara clarified that further relief measures will be decided based on the manner in which the Union Government extends assistance to the State.At this stage,it is not possible to make any commitment regarding a revised relief amount.
The Union Government has already written to the State Government regarding sending a team,including an IAS officer,to assess the drought situation.
The date of the team’s visit has not yet been fixed.Once the Central team visits the State and assesses the drought situation and losses in accordance with its guidelines,there will be greater clarity on the extent of further relief,he said.
Regarding taking an all-party delegation to Delhi on drought relief,he said the Chief Minister and he had already clarified the matter in the Legislative Assembly.
An all-party meeting will be held,everyone will be taken into confidence,and the delegation will be taken to Delhi, he said.
The delegation will meet the Prime Minister,Union Home Minister and Union Agriculture Minister and explain Karnataka’s drought situation and the distress faced by farmers.
If Opposition members are willing to join, the Government is ready to take them along as well.
The date of the delegation’s visit to Delhi has not yet been fixed,he said.
Response to the protest seeking an increase in the honorarium for persons with disabilities:
Referring to the protest by persons with disabilities in Ramanagara seeking an increase in their honorarium, he said the concerned department must prepare a proposal and place it before the Cabinet.
The Chief Minister is also the Finance Minister.If the proposal is discussed with him and brought before the Cabinet,everyone will extend their cooperation,he said.
