LS members express concern over drought situation

Concerned over drought in various parts of the country, members in Lok Sabha today asked the Centre to provide liberal financial assistance to the states, evolve a national policy and set up a permanent mechanism to deal with the grave problem recurring frequently.
Stressing that one-third of the country was reeling under the impact of drought, the members also wanted steps to prevent farmers' suicides and suggested ensuring that the funds allocated to the states be spent properly. Some of them even suggested a separate budget for the agriculture sector.
Though the debate was initiated by Congress member Jyotiraditya Scindia on Monday, the main opposition party did not participate in the discussion today after its members and those of the Trinamool Congress walked out of the House to protest some "objectionable" remarks by a BJP member against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Scindia.

The discussion remained inconclusive and the government is expected to reply to the debate tomorrow.
Participating in the discussion, Tariq Anwar (NCP) said the measures taken by the government to mitigate the drought situation were not enough and more was needed to be done.
"Every year Parliament discusses drought and the plight of farmers. It has just become a formality. There is no conclusion that is emerging from such discussions," he said.

He demanded that the Modi government should implement the recommendations of the M S Swaminathan committee as was promised in BJP's election manifesto.
"Government is not working towards implementation of the Swaminathan committee recommendations. It seems like 'achhe din' and black money, this will also remain a political slogan of the government," Anwar said.

He suggested that the 'DD Kisan' channel should be made available in regional languages and farmers given prior information on weather through it.
Danve Raosaheb Dadarao (BJP) said drought has also impacted the industry and curtailed job opportunites and asked the Centre to enhance financial assistance to Maharashtra.
Hukumdev Narayan Yadav (BJP) demanded that the money
spent on MGNREGA and Food Security schemes be diverted to irrigation schemes, besides setting up of check dams to promote irrigation and benefit the farmers. He also suggested setting up of Krishi Aayog and inclusion of farmers in it.
Malla Reddy (TDP) called for setting up of 'Kisan India' on the lines of 'Skill India' and 'Digital India'. He also wanted the government to set up a 'Kisan Bank' to provide interest free loans to farmers.

Arun Kumar (RLSP) suggested inter-connectivity of rivers as a long term solution to drought and sought inclusion of farmers' representatives in Krishi Aayog.
Expelled RJD member Pappu Yadav wanted to know if the government was willing to give industry status to farm sector.
Severely criticising the UP government, Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM) said while some were "busy celebrating birthdays and eating cakes", the poor, especially in the Bundelkhand region, were compelled to eat "rotis of grass and sabzi of weeds."
He asked the Prime Minister to call a meeting of Chief Ministers to discuss the worsening drought situation and initiate effective measures to deal with the problem. He sought the revival of the Antyodya Scheme, started by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, to help the poor people.

Owaisi also regretted that due to the "beef ban" controversy, the farmers were unable to sell their cattle, which could have provided them some financial relief.
Observing that one-third of the nation was reeling under the impact of drought, Ganesh Singh (BJP) demanded revamping of the crop insurance scheme to make it more effective and farmer friendly.
Regretting that UP government was not doing anything to help the drought-affected farmers, Anupriya Patel (Aapna Dal) asked the Centre to probe how the money allocated by it was being spent by the state administration.
Bhairon Prasad Mishra (BJP) also accused the UP government of doing nothing to provide relief to farmers of Bundelkhand who were being compelled to commit suicide or flee to other places in search of work.

Dushyant Chautala (INLD) suggested setting up of a Kisan Commission to look into the farming community and sought action against sellers of BT cotton seeds which, he said, has led to the menace of 'white flies' in the state.
He also sought speeding up of the work of linking rivers to ensure availability of water to the farmers and the people.
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Advocating that everyone should work together to tackle drought, BJP member Pritam Munde said there should not be any politics on the issue.
Blaming the government and discussing how many farmer suicides happened under which regime do not help, she said.

"We need to unite and work together" to address drought, said Munde, who spoke in Marathi.
Dharmendra Yadav (SP) said politics over drought should be stopped while stressing that state and central governments should work together in tackling the problem.
Taking a dig at the Centre, he alleged that empty train without water was sent for drought-hit Bundelkhand.
He said the state government has taken various measures to help the affected people.
To deal with water problems and drought, Prem Singh Chandumajra (SAD) suggested setting up of National Water Management Board that can bring together various ministries, including that of Water Resources and Forest.

The board can help in curbing mismanagement of water resources, he added.
Targeting Congress members who were staging a dharna in the House, he contended that members were not taking the discussion on drought seriously as those from Opposition were sitting in the Well.
Pralhad Joshi (BJP) said the central government is doing its best to deal with drought and it is ultimately up to the state governments to tackle the problem.
There has been bad management of water resources over the years. Drought cannot be prevented but properly tackling the issue can minimise the effects, he added.
Joshi took a swipe at the Congress members who were sitting in the Well, saying they were more bothered about their leader than the drought situation.

"Rajmatha chali gayi, Dalit neta idhar baithen hai... Rajkumar be chale gaye (Godmother has left, Dalit leader is sitting here... Prince has also left)," he said, in an apparent reference to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
In response to the jibe by Joshi, Congress member Rajeev Satav (Cong) quipped: "Twitter PM kahan hai (where is the twitter PM)?," referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was not present in the House at that time.
Satav also said that many senior ministers were not present in the House for the discussion.
Pitching for proper water policies, Chirag Paswan (LJP) said there should be discussion on having a law for ensuring water security.

Stressing the need for permanent solutions to deal with drought, he also called for interlinking of rivers.
Pralhad Singh Patel (BJP) said there is need to first understand the reasons that cause drought.