Jharkhand sanctions Rs 410 cr relief package for kharif crop damage

The state chief minister Arjun Munda announced a relief package to the vextent of Rs 410 crore for the relief to 39 lakh farmers in the state owing to adverse impact of lowest rainfall this year in comparison with last few years affecting sevvere drought like condition throughout 24 districts of the state.

Of the sanctioned amount of Rs 410 crore, Rs 150 crore will be provided to the farmers to purchase diesel for irrigation purpose and Rs 240 crore will be utilizes by 39 lakh farmers as interest free loan through banks.

Official source claimed that about 20 lakh farmers’ family had been provided kisan credit cards and in another round 9 lakh more households would be brought to kisan credit card scheme under a special drive for kharif crops.Chief minister held an emergent meeting with senior bureaucrats - development commissioner Debashish Gupta, agriculture secretary Arun Kumar Singh, forest secretary Alka Tiwary, planning secretary Avinash Kumar and agriculture director K K Soan in the wake of a strong letter written to chief minister by the Co-ordination Committee chairperson also an alliance partner- Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief ShibuSoren recently. Besides, several opposition parties also demonstrated against the action of the chief minister for allowing the state chief secretary S K Choudhary who is to retire after four months and the principal secretary to chief minister D K Tiwari to London on July 25 to catch Olympics live on a 10-day “ exposure trip”.