With drought hammering Bihar, Rs 1500 Cr released by state with alternative employment for farmers

Patna, October 16: As half of the states in India were reeling under the waves of heavy rainfall, other states in the north witnessed drought. One such state that witnessed the drought is Bihar as the state declared 206 blocks in 23 districts to be drought-hit. Under this perspective, the state government will provide assistance and alternative employment to farmers in the affected areas.

 

Bihar government has announced that Rs 1500 Crore rupees would be spent for immediate relief works in drought-affected areas. The State government has declared these blocks drought affected due to deficient rainfall, drying of standing crops and record 33% decrease of crop productivity.

The disaster management department has chalked out several other relief measures with co-ordination of Agriculture, Rural Development, Food Supply and Public Health and Engineering (PHED) department. Conducting a meeting reviewing the drought hit areas, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar directed the officials to provide assistance and alternative employment to farmers in the drought-affected blocks. It will also make arrangements for animals and livestock.

The government will postpone the collection of all co-operative loans from farmers, land revenue tax, irrigation and electricity charges. Affected farmers will be provided subsidies on diesel and seeds along with benefits of crop insurance.

The state government has asked farmers to register themselves by the end of this month to avail benefits of the crop assistance scheme and by November 15 for input subsidy scheme. The areas that are affected by drought are under blocks of Patna, Bhojpur, Buxar, Kaimur, Gaya, Jahanabad, Navada, Aurangabad, Saran, Siwan, Gopalganj, Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Samastipur, Munger, Sheikhpura, Jamui, Bhagalpur, Banka, Nalanda and Saharsa districts