Farmers’ fate in limbo, Bihar and UP yet to submit drought report

Even though Metrological Department has declared most of the states drought-affected, the lackadaisical approach of states in certifying natural calamity has put farmers’ fate in limbo.  Since Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have not yet submitted their report on drought affected areas, the Centre is not able to layout the final scheme for farmers’ welfare.

“The Centre has already taken several initiatives to address the drought issue, but not able to implement the same in these states due to delay in reporting about drought areas from states,” a senior official of the ministry said, adding that even though states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Telangana are facing drought crisis, they have not yet submitted their report to the Centre, which is creating an obstacle in allocating Central relief fund to these state.

“Karnataka was the first state to report about the drought affected areas and the moment Congress-ruled state submitted its detailed report, the Agriculture Ministry released Rs 1,541 crore. Other states like Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh have also submitted their report on drought to Centre. Acting swiftly, ministry has already sent Central teams to assess the damage in these states, the official added.

The official further maintained that the financial assistance to these states would also be released soon. The Centre declares a state drought-affected if the rainfall in any particular state is 20 per cent lesser than normal.

The apathy from states end has put the life of farmers in misery as Centre cannot release the fund unless it didn’t get the report from states. Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh are keeping an eye on drought crisis.