Centre approves Rs 2,553-cr drought relief for 3 states

With state Assembly elections in mind, the central government on Wednesday approved a financial assistance to drought-hit Uttar Pradesh of around Rs 1,304.5 crore, Rs 753.3 crore less than the amount demanded by the state.

UP had demanded an assistance of Rs 2,057 crore for drought relief of which Rs 1,427 crore was for input subsidy.

"Last year, UP sought over Rs 4,000 crore as drought relief, but got only Rs 490 crore, the relief is somewhat better this time. However, keeping in view the intensity of drought, the size of the state and need for permanently drought-proofing the state, this is inadequate," Sudhir Panwar, president of Kisan Jagriti Manch and member of UP Planning Board told Business Standard.

A sum of Rs 2,553.29 crore was approved by a high-level panel of central ministers chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh for drought relief from the National Disaster Relief Fund, which also included Rs 433.8 crore for Andhra Pradesh and Rs 815 crore for Odisha. The central government has so far allocated Rs 10,451.24 crore for drought relief in seven states.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh, vice-chairman NITI Aayog Arvind Panagariya, Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and senior officers of home, finance and agriculture ministries attended the meeting.

Ten states have sought assistance as 280 districts have been affected by drought.

PM steps in to resolve dispute

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday stepped in to sort out a dispute over the premium to be charged from farmers under the crop insurance scheme proposed to be launched this year at a meeting he held with ministerial colleagues. Details of the meeting, however, were not disclosed.