Drought-Hit Areas to Be Attended on Priority Under PM’s Scheme

Bundelkhand in Uttar Pradesh as well as in Vidarbha and Marathwada in Maharashtra have been under severe conditions of drought. (Photo: iStockPhoto)

The government on Wednesday said drought-hit villages and districts spread across the country will get priority under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sichai Yojana (PMKSY).

There has been good response from all quarters including from states. We are set to get very good results from PMKSY. Nevertheless all drought hit areas will get priority under the scheme.

<b>Radha Mohan Singh, Union Agriculture Minister</b>

Singh said with cooperation from the states and all stakeholders, by September over 500 villages will be covered under the scheme.

The PMKSY launched in 2015-16 would not only enhance water resources in the country but also increase water use efficiency, the minister said.

Expressing its firm resolve to tackle the situation arising out of drought and deficient rains in various parts of the country, the central government directed that the allocation of funds for the affected states should be done immediately for procurement of fodder.

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A high-level committee for central assistance to drought-affected states recommended Rs 1,304 crore as relief on 10 April, besides other measures, to Bundelkhand in Uttar Pradesh, under the National Disaster Relief Fund.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had ordered a high-level review of the drought situation in Bundelkhand in Uttar Pradesh as well as in Vidarbha and Marathwada in Maharashtra, officials said.

At a meeting presided over by the union cabinet secretary, Pradeep Kumar Sinha, it was decided that states will be provided with funds immediately under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana for procurement of fodder under the State Disaster Response Fund.

The government has also released over Rs 823 crore to the states for making available potable water in parched areas.

Union Rural Development Minister Birendra Singh on Tuesday said states have been asked to utilise about Rs 170 crore, which is 10 percent of the Rs 1,700 crore which is lying unutilised with them.

The government also approved an increase in man-days (a day regarded in terms of the amount of work that can be done by one person within a period) under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) from 100 to 150 days of work in Bundelkhand for the current fiscal.

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