New Delhi, May 6: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold a high-level meeting with Chief Ministers of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh tomorrow, to asses the condition of the drought. The meeting is undertaken to design the further agenda for tackling the grave situation in parched regions. Centre is likely to extend more monetary help to the states. According to sources, Centre is likely to announce funds for irrigation projects, along with the release of outstanding liability of MNREGA on Saturday.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had, earlier in the week, pitched for additional funds for rejuvenating irrigation facility in the state. Centre is expected to release Rs 30,000 crore to Maharashtra. Meanwhile, Centre is yet to pay Rs 3,800 crore to the Maharashtra government as part of outstanding payment of 2015-16 to workers who were enrolled in the rural employment guarantee scheme. (ALSO: Drought in Maharashtra: In response to PM Modi’s ‘Mann ki Baat’, Latur farmers express ‘Mann ki Peeda’ (Sound clip)
Drought in India has plagued a total of 11 states, affecting 330 million people. However, as per the petition of civil activists’ group Swaraj Abhiyan, the data provided by government is incorrect. The total amount of dwellers in the drought-hot districts of the 11 states amount to 480 million. Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav claims that the states of Gujarat, Haryana and Bihar have not declared drought, despite the states facing severe water scarcity. If the parched regions of these three states are included, then the total amount of people reeling under drought in 540 million, which is more than 2/5th of the nation.
All India Kisan Sabha has demanded Centre to release Rs 12,500 crores which is yet to be paid to workers of MNREGA in 2015-16. In addition, they have also demanded loan-waivers for farmers in the drought-hit regions, along with restructuring of loans of farmers who do not belong to the regions where drought is officially declared.