MPs express concern over drought situation

Members of the Lok Sabha on Monday expressed concern over drought situation in the country with the Opposition demanding waiver of bank loan and electricity bill for farmers as part of relief measure.

Initiating a debate over the issue of drought in the House, Congress’ Jyotiraditya Scindia said farmers across the country are facing a tough situation...the bank loan and electricity bills of the farmers should be waived off. “If you want to learn how to waive off debt, you should learn from our leader Sonia Gandhi,” he said, apparently referring to the 2008 decision of the Congress-led UPA government to give Agricultural Debt Waiver and Debt Relief worth Rs 70,000 crore.

About 50 per cent of the country has been hit by drought, Scindia said, adding, it has affected 18 states. This is the second consecutive year when the country received deficient monsoon, he added.

Scindia said high prices of food items, including pulses, coupled with low yield due to drought have broken the back of the farmers.