C.M. Shri Chouhan Submits Memorandum to P.M. Dr. Manmohan SinghBarring the year 2003-04, drought situation is prevailing in the state for the last 10 years. Shri Chouhan informed that during the year 2007-08 he had himself met the then Union Agriculture Minister and Home Minister and requested them to provide immediate financial assistance of Rs. 1548 crore and medium and long-term financial assistance of Rs. 24,244 crore to meet the severe drought situation in the state.
The Samra Committee of the Union Government had recommended central assistance of Rs. 4000 crore for the state. However, on behalf of the Central Government, financial assistance of even a single rupee was not made available under the NCCF.
Even after this, the State Government made available additional amount of Rs. 500 crore for the Natural Calamity Relief Fund in the last two years after contributing its share from the Natural Calamity Relief Fund.
The Chief Minister, Shri Chouhan demanded to change the drought relief norms. In case of loss of 50 percent or over it, the eligibility for assistance comes under CRF and NCCF. Shri Chouhan pointed out that it was impossible to compensate the loss in case of crop yield of 50 percent. Hence, the eligibility criteria for relief assistance should be in case of 25 percent crop loss. Referring to the electricity bills of farmers, Shri Chouhan said that the State Government is extending the benefit of Krishak Rahat Yojana upto December 30, 2009.
However, in view of the drought situation prevailing in the state, the farmers are unable to deposit the 50 percent amount. Shri Chouhan requested that the Government of India should bear 50 percent of the amount payable as on March 31, 2009. The remaining amount is being borne by the state government. Also, the Government of India should provide funds for purchase of additional electricity.
Shri Chouhan demanded that input material grant should be increased from Rs. 2000 per hectare to Rs. 3000 per hectare for Rabi crop. Shri Chouhan urged the Prime Minister to provide hundred percent subsidy in respect of diesel on the basis of the rainfall recorded upto August 15. Shri Chouhan informed that the state government is taking all necessary steps to control the dearness. These steps are yielding encouraging results, he added.
He requested the Prime Minister to provide foodgrains at the rate of 35 kilograms per family for the drought affected people under the Public Distribution System. Along with this, the BPL and APL card holders should be provided two kilograms of sugar on each ration card.
He informed that nearly 23 thousand 700 metric tonnes of sugar allotted by the Government of India has not been made available to the state government due to various reasons in the last seven months. Shri Chouhan said that a provision to provide 180 days employment should be made under the NREGA.
In the other districts, provision should be made to provide hundred days employment to the affected population. In view of the above facts, the Central Government should provide additional budget, Shri Chouhan reiterated.
The memorandum handed over to the Prime Minister in this regard contains details of the funds required to be spent on various works to be undertaken in most of the parts of Madhya Pradesh which are reeling under severe drought conditions.
While submitting the memorandum the Chief Minister urged the Prime Minister to make available this assistance to the state at the earliest so that adequate relief could be provided in the drought-hit areas.
As per the memorandum, assistance of Rs. 3403 crore 62 lakh has been sought for Agriculture Department to combat the drought situation, Rs. 20 crore 61 lakh assistance for Horticulture Department, Rs. 30 crore for Forest Department, Rs. 3547 crore for Rural Development Department, Rs. 1264 crore for Water Resources Department, Rs. 230 crore 85 lakh for Public Works Department, Rs. 313 crore 50 lakh assistance for Public Health Engineering Department to provide drinking water in rural areas, Rs. 1174 crore 54 lakh for Urban Administration and Development Department for drinking water arrangements in urban areas, assistance of Rs. 1470 crore nine lakh for Animal Husbandry Department, Rs. eight crore 48 lakh assistance for Fisheries Department and assistance of Rs. 207 crore has been sought for Food and Civil Supplies Department to meet the drought situation in the state.
It has been stated in the memorandum that early Rabi crops such as gram, peas, mustard, oilseed, toriya etc. are proposed to be sown in an area of five lakh hectares which could not be covered earlier under sowing operations. For this, there is a proposal to provide input subsidy at the rate of Rs. 2000 per hectare to the farmers. An amount of Rs. 100 crore is estimated to be spent on this measure.
Moreover, it has been pointed out in the memorandum that there has been an unprecedented drought situation in most parts of the state over the last few years. This year, the South-West monsoon arrived late by 15 days.
As a result of this, only 10 districts have recorded normal rainfall. Less rainfall varying from 20 to 59 percent has been recorded in 34 districts and 60 percent less rainfall has been registered in six districts. Further, the situation is quite grim in 37 drought-hit districts with less rainfall over 25 percent. The State Government has declared these districts as drought-hit.
It has also been stated in the memorandum that there is a likelihood of shortfall of 25 to 30 percent in paddy production under the Kharif this year. If there are no adequate rains by August 20, the loss may further increase to 60 percent.
Apart from this, there is an apprehension that the soyabean production may be less by 15 percent. If the situation of scanty rains continues till August 20, then the shortfall in production may reach upto 40 percent.
The Chief Minister informed the Prime Minister that in accordance with the wishes of the Government of India, the work on computerization of the Public Distribution System is in progress. This shall include biometric marking. Database is being compiled and bar-coded ration cards shall be based on biometric system.
The entire process needs an amount of Rs. 104 crore. Further, an amount of 103 crore would be required to provide reading devices to each fairprice shop. Thus, an assistance of Rs. 203 crore has been sought in the memorandum to further strengthen the Public Distribution System.
The Chief Minister also informed the Prime Minister that the State Government is constantly monitoring the drought situation. Meetings of Calamity Relief Fund Committee headed by the Chief Secretary are being held regularly.
Effective decisions are being taken to mitigate the distress of the drought affected persons and livestock. Huge funds are urgently required to address the issues of employment generation, drinking water supply, holding of cattle camps, arrangements of fodder, food, input subsidy to farmers, health, food supply etc. in the affected areas.Nityanand Dube
The Samra Committee of the Union Government had recommended central assistance of Rs. 4000 crore for the state. However, on behalf of the Central Government, financial assistance of even a single rupee was not made available under the NCCF.
Even after this, the State Government made available additional amount of Rs. 500 crore for the Natural Calamity Relief Fund in the last two years after contributing its share from the Natural Calamity Relief Fund.
The Chief Minister, Shri Chouhan demanded to change the drought relief norms. In case of loss of 50 percent or over it, the eligibility for assistance comes under CRF and NCCF. Shri Chouhan pointed out that it was impossible to compensate the loss in case of crop yield of 50 percent. Hence, the eligibility criteria for relief assistance should be in case of 25 percent crop loss. Referring to the electricity bills of farmers, Shri Chouhan said that the State Government is extending the benefit of Krishak Rahat Yojana upto December 30, 2009.
However, in view of the drought situation prevailing in the state, the farmers are unable to deposit the 50 percent amount. Shri Chouhan requested that the Government of India should bear 50 percent of the amount payable as on March 31, 2009. The remaining amount is being borne by the state government. Also, the Government of India should provide funds for purchase of additional electricity.
Shri Chouhan demanded that input material grant should be increased from Rs. 2000 per hectare to Rs. 3000 per hectare for Rabi crop. Shri Chouhan urged the Prime Minister to provide hundred percent subsidy in respect of diesel on the basis of the rainfall recorded upto August 15. Shri Chouhan informed that the state government is taking all necessary steps to control the dearness. These steps are yielding encouraging results, he added.
He requested the Prime Minister to provide foodgrains at the rate of 35 kilograms per family for the drought affected people under the Public Distribution System. Along with this, the BPL and APL card holders should be provided two kilograms of sugar on each ration card.
He informed that nearly 23 thousand 700 metric tonnes of sugar allotted by the Government of India has not been made available to the state government due to various reasons in the last seven months. Shri Chouhan said that a provision to provide 180 days employment should be made under the NREGA.
In the other districts, provision should be made to provide hundred days employment to the affected population. In view of the above facts, the Central Government should provide additional budget, Shri Chouhan reiterated.
The memorandum handed over to the Prime Minister in this regard contains details of the funds required to be spent on various works to be undertaken in most of the parts of Madhya Pradesh which are reeling under severe drought conditions.
While submitting the memorandum the Chief Minister urged the Prime Minister to make available this assistance to the state at the earliest so that adequate relief could be provided in the drought-hit areas.
As per the memorandum, assistance of Rs. 3403 crore 62 lakh has been sought for Agriculture Department to combat the drought situation, Rs. 20 crore 61 lakh assistance for Horticulture Department, Rs. 30 crore for Forest Department, Rs. 3547 crore for Rural Development Department, Rs. 1264 crore for Water Resources Department, Rs. 230 crore 85 lakh for Public Works Department, Rs. 313 crore 50 lakh assistance for Public Health Engineering Department to provide drinking water in rural areas, Rs. 1174 crore 54 lakh for Urban Administration and Development Department for drinking water arrangements in urban areas, assistance of Rs. 1470 crore nine lakh for Animal Husbandry Department, Rs. eight crore 48 lakh assistance for Fisheries Department and assistance of Rs. 207 crore has been sought for Food and Civil Supplies Department to meet the drought situation in the state.
It has been stated in the memorandum that early Rabi crops such as gram, peas, mustard, oilseed, toriya etc. are proposed to be sown in an area of five lakh hectares which could not be covered earlier under sowing operations. For this, there is a proposal to provide input subsidy at the rate of Rs. 2000 per hectare to the farmers. An amount of Rs. 100 crore is estimated to be spent on this measure.
Moreover, it has been pointed out in the memorandum that there has been an unprecedented drought situation in most parts of the state over the last few years. This year, the South-West monsoon arrived late by 15 days.
As a result of this, only 10 districts have recorded normal rainfall. Less rainfall varying from 20 to 59 percent has been recorded in 34 districts and 60 percent less rainfall has been registered in six districts. Further, the situation is quite grim in 37 drought-hit districts with less rainfall over 25 percent. The State Government has declared these districts as drought-hit.
It has also been stated in the memorandum that there is a likelihood of shortfall of 25 to 30 percent in paddy production under the Kharif this year. If there are no adequate rains by August 20, the loss may further increase to 60 percent.
Apart from this, there is an apprehension that the soyabean production may be less by 15 percent. If the situation of scanty rains continues till August 20, then the shortfall in production may reach upto 40 percent.
The Chief Minister informed the Prime Minister that in accordance with the wishes of the Government of India, the work on computerization of the Public Distribution System is in progress. This shall include biometric marking. Database is being compiled and bar-coded ration cards shall be based on biometric system.
The entire process needs an amount of Rs. 104 crore. Further, an amount of 103 crore would be required to provide reading devices to each fairprice shop. Thus, an assistance of Rs. 203 crore has been sought in the memorandum to further strengthen the Public Distribution System.
The Chief Minister also informed the Prime Minister that the State Government is constantly monitoring the drought situation. Meetings of Calamity Relief Fund Committee headed by the Chief Secretary are being held regularly.
Effective decisions are being taken to mitigate the distress of the drought affected persons and livestock. Huge funds are urgently required to address the issues of employment generation, drinking water supply, holding of cattle camps, arrangements of fodder, food, input subsidy to farmers, health, food supply etc. in the affected areas.Nityanand Dube
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