Karnataka Farmers to Get Rs 2000 Drought Relief from State, Central Govt Funds Not Received Yet

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday, 30, announced to provide Rs 2000 to every farmer as the government's financial aid has not been reached to the state yet.

The CM said the government had decided to do whatever it could in the absence of any response from the Centre to Karnataka’s request for NDRF funds. “As the first installment, the government will release Rs 2,000 per farmer. The rest will be given to them once the Centre releases funds, he mentioned in the state government's memorandum.

"We first appealed to the Center for Drought Relief on September 21. The Center's team toured the state from October 4 to 9 conducted a drought survey and submitted a report. We all met the central team and discussed and explained the situation. Crop loss in 48.19 lakh hectare area. We had asked for Rs.4,663 crore from the Crop Loss Compensation Centre. We have also appealed to the Union Minister. I wrote a letter asking him to give me time to personally meet the Union Agriculture and Home Minister. No time has been given to date," he said.

The state government had sent a memorandum in September seeking a relief of Rs 4,663 crore under the NDRF funds. The state suffered crop losses of Rs 48.19 lakh due to drought.

The Centre government has promised farmers to provide Rs 8,500 per hectare for rainfed crops, Rs 17,000 for irrigated crops, and Rs 22, 500 for perennial crops.

He also mentioned that the central government has released Rs 46 crore to 6.5 lakh farmers for mid-term crop loss and sowing failure from Rs 78- crore funds available.