Yogesh K Porwar
*₹10,000–₹12,000 Crore Drought Relief Sought from Centre; State Government Provides ₹2,500 Each to 50 Lakh Farmers in First Instalment
*Five-Year Period for Repayment of Farmers’ Loans.
*No Politics Over Farmers’ Distress; Let Us Press the Centre for Assistance Beyond Party Lines.
*Guarantee Schemes Have Not Affected Fiscal Discipline; Government Is Managing All Programmes: DyCM.
The drought situation in the State is becoming increasingly severe, with crops cultivated by farmers being completely destroyed and leaving them in deep distress.
Protecting farmers is the Government’s first priority, and if necessary, the Government is prepared even to borrow funds to provide them assistance, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Sports and Revenue Dr.G. Parameshwara assured.
He was speaking to the media today after visiting and inspecting farmland at Gunnal village in Yelburga taluk.
Of the State’s 240 taluks, 217 have already been declared drought-affected.The severity of the drought in several North Karnataka districts, including Ballari, Vijayanagara, Koppal, Raichur and Vijayapura, is greater than in the Mysuru region.
During recent inspections of drought conditions in Vijayapura and Ballari districts, it was found that 98% of crops in Vijayanagara district had been destroyed.
Even the remaining 2% is unlikely to reach farmers as a viable harvest. The State is facing an extremely difficult situation, he said.
Farmers cultivate two or three acres of land with the hope of building a livelihood and often borrow money to do so.
They borrow not only from banks but also through private loans and from acquaintances. When the entire crop is destroyed, they are left unsure not only about how to repay their debts, but also about what to do next.
“Farmers are in a situation where they are left helpless. When we listen to their grievances, we understand the depth of their pain,” Dr.Parameshwara said.
The Government is prioritising drinking water supply, assistance to farmers and generation of wage employment as part of drought management.
People are migrating from villages because of the drought.Recently, he said, he came across a Lambani Tanda where residents were on the verge of leaving the entire settlement in search of work.
Officials were instructed to provide them employment under the rural employment guarantee scheme.“If work is available within rural areas, migration can be prevented.
We can survive only if farmers survive. Without farmers, neither society nor Government can sustain itself,” he said.
₹8,500 Relief under Central Norms; State Releases ₹2,500 as First Instalment:
Under the norms of the Union Government’s National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), farmers are to receive a total relief amount of ₹8,500, comprising both the Central and State shares.
However, since the Centre has not yet released its share, the State Government decided that farmers should not be made to wait and has provided ₹2,500 each from its own share as the first instalment, he said.
Around 50 lakh farmers across Karnataka are to receive the assistance. The Government has already spent ₹1,250 crore to provide ₹2,500 to each farmer.
“We acknowledge that this amount is not sufficient to address the distress faced by farmers. But when assistance has to be provided to 50 lakh farmers, the overall expenditure involved must also be considered. Releasing the first instalment is part of the Government’s responsibility,” he said.
The State has already submitted to the Centre an assessment of around ₹46,000 crore in crop losses, based on losses in 177 taluks.
If the drought continues, the extent of losses could increase further.Based on the current assessment and NDRF guidelines, the State has sought around ₹10,000 crore to ₹12,000 crore in relief from the Centre, he said.
The Union Government has sent three teams to Karnataka, which have visited different regions and assessed the drought situation. Relief is expected to be released based on the reports submitted by these teams.
It has been decided to take a delegation comprising the Chief Minister, the Deputy Chief Minister and Opposition leaders to the Centre to press for drought relief.
However, BJP and JDS leaders have indicated that they will not participate in the delegation, he said.
The final loss assessment this time could rise further. If the total loss reaches around ₹60,000 crore by the time the final memorandum is submitted, the State may seek around ₹18,000 crore to ₹20,000 crore in relief.
“We will have to see how much assistance the Centre ultimately provides.MPs from Karnataka should put pressure on the Centre irrespective of party affiliation. This is not the time for politics; this is the time to stand with farmers,” he said.
Steps to Ensure Early Payment of Crop Insurance:
The Government is taking steps to ensure that crop insurance payments reach farmers who have lost their crops to drought at the earliest.
Referring to local farmer Sharanappa, who had insured his crop but was still awaiting compensation, the Minister said he had discussed the issue with insurance companies.
Steps are also being taken regarding the share of crop insurance premium that farmers are required to pay.
The Government’s objective is to ensure that eligible farmers receive their insurance compensation without delay.
The State has already provided ₹2,500 as the first instalment of relief, and further assistance will be provided once Union Government funds are received, he assured.
Groundwater levels have fallen sharply in several parts of the State. In some areas, water is unavailable even after drilling to a depth of 500 feet.
“In my own region, there are places where even drilling to a depth of 1,800 feet has failed to yield water,” he said.
Drinking water shortages, crop loss and lack of employment have pushed farmers into severe distress. The Government, under the leadership of the Chief Minister, will continue to stand with farmers, he assured.
Instead of assessing the drought situation while sitting in Bengaluru, Government representatives are travelling to different districts and directly understanding farmers’ problems.
The Chief Minister began holding review meetings as early as June, with assessments conducted in regions including Kalaburagi, Belagavi and Chitradurga.
Dr. Parameshwara said he too has personally visited several districts, gone to farmers’ fields and spoken with them directly to understand their difficulties.The Government will provide every possible assistance within its capacity,” he said.
Five-Year Period for Repayment of Farmers’ Loans:
Measures have already been initiated to provide farmers affected by drought with a five-year period for repayment of loans, the Minister said.
A 60-month moratorium has been provided on loan repayment, during which farmers need not repay their loans.
Banks have also been informed that the Government will address related liabilities, including the issue of interest on the loans, he said.
Farmers are also receiving support through diesel subsidy, electricity subsidy and the Government’s Guarantee schemes.
Taking all these forms of assistance together, farmers are receiving benefits amounting to around ₹1 lakh per month, he said.
If the assistance currently being provided is found to be insufficient,further measures will be taken.“Under no circumstances will we abandon farmers.
If necessary, the Government is prepared even to borrow money to provide relief. Protecting farmers’ livelihoods is the Government’s responsibility,” he said.
Centre to Be Requested to Provide Support Price for Maize:
Maize is cultivated extensively across several districts of North Karnataka, and farmers are now facing difficulties due to low prices and reduced yields. The Union Government will be requested to take steps to address the issue, the Minister said.
The Centre also has a responsibility in determining Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for crops. Since both the Central and State Governments are part of the federal system, both must discharge their responsibilities in addressing farmers’ problems.The Union Government should provide the necessary support with regard to the support price, he said.
Any Disruption in Bus Services Due to Diesel Shortage Will Be Rectified Immediately:
Responding to a journalist’s question about reports that some State transport depots had run out of diesel and bus services had been disrupted because pending payments had not been cleared, Dr.Parameshwara said it could be a temporary issue and would be rectified immediately.
Running a Government requires providing funds to different departments, mobilising revenue and managing all schemes and programmes.
Revenue is mobilised through various sources, including Excise, Registration and Commercial Taxes, and Government finances are managed accordingly. If there is a temporary delay in any one area, it will be addressed.“The Government has not stopped any scheme,”he said.
He rejected the allegation that the Guarantee schemes had created a financial crisis in the State.If the Guarantees had caused such a financial problem, the Government could have stopped at least one of the schemes.
But we have spent around ₹52,000 crore on the Guarantee schemes over the past three years and continue to implement them,” he said.
He said Siddaramaiah has presented around 16 State Budgets and has maintained fiscal discipline over the years.
The Karnataka Government too is functioning with fiscal discipline. Compared with the situation in several other States, Karnataka’s financial management remains sound, he said.
Therefore, the allegation that the Guarantee schemes alone have caused the State’s financial difficulties is not correct, Dr.Parameshwara said.
No Compromise on Supporting Farmers:
Despite the drought,the Government will not step back from providing assistance to farmers. Efforts are being made to protect them through crop-loss compensation, crop insurance, extension of the loan repayment period, support relating to interest payments and other assistance, he said.
The Union Government too must discharge its responsibility in addressing farmers’ distress. The State Government has already released the first instalment of relief. In the coming days, efforts will be made to obtain assistance from the Centre and provide further relief to farmers.
During drought management, farmers’ livelihoods must take precedence over politics, he said.
