The Centre told the Supreme Court on Friday that Agriculture Secretaries of 12 drought-hit states will meet in Delhi on January 25 and 27 to discuss steps to be taken to provide relief to farmers and others affected.
A Bench of justices Madan B Lokur and RK Agrawal was informed this by Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar in pursuance to the Apex Court’s January 18 direction, asking the Centre to apprise it about the current status of welfare schemes like MGNREGA, National Food Security and mid-day meal in the 12 drought-hit states across the country.
Posting the matter for February 1, the court also asked the Solicitor General to inform it about the steps that have been taken and those proposed to be taken in these states. “We hope that the states will take positive and necessary steps, particularly in view of our last order of January 18,” it said.
The Bench had then asked the authorities concerned to specify the criteria for declaration of drought and had sought information about rain in these states.