Raje demands special relief package of Rs.11,886 crore

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Wednesday met union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and demanded a special relief package of Rs.11,886 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for the calamity-hit farmers of the state.

Raje, who was accompanied by Home and Disaster Relief Minister Gulab Chand Kataria in the meeting in New Delhi, told Jaitley that rabi crops had suffered damages due to unseasonal rains and hailstorms in Rajasthan, a state government statement said.

The state government was making all possible efforts to provide relief to the affected farmers, she said.

Twice this year - in February and March - Rajasthan suffered loss of human lives, livestock, crops and properties due to hailstorm and rains.

Raje also met union Home Minister Rajnath Singh earlier and demanded more central funds as relief package for hailstorm from the union government in view of heavy damages caused by untimely rains and hailstorm in the state.

She also asked him to establish a new Rapid Action Force battalion at Jaipur.