Karnataka announces Rs 2,500 aid for 50 lakh drought-hit farmers

Karnataka has announced an interim input subsidy of Rs 2,500 per farmer for around 50 lakh drought-affected farmers as the state government awaits financial assistance from the Centre under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). The relief package will cost the state exchequer about Rs 1,250 crore.

The announcement came on Thursday at the conclusion of the four-day special session of the Karnataka legislature, which was convened primarily to discuss the drought situation and the Dr K Kasturirangan report on the Western Ghats.

Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister G Parameshwara said 177 of Karnataka’s 240 taluks had been officially declared drought-hit. The government has made a preliminary assessment of drought-related losses at around Rs 40,000 crore and plans to submit a memorandum to the Centre seeking assistance under NDRF norms.

He said the state would provide the Rs 2,500 input subsidy immediately, anticipating central assistance. The government has also extended the repayment moratorium on crop loans from 36 months to 60 months to provide additional relief to farmers facing financial stress.

Shivakumar seeks Centre’s role in farm loan waiver

Chief Minister DK Shivakumar also raised the issue of farm loan waivers, offering to lead an all-party delegation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to seek central support.

Shivakumar said Karnataka was prepared to bear its share of the financial burden if the Centre agreed to a farm loan waiver. He appealed to Opposition parties to join the delegation and help negotiate an arrangement with the Centre, irrespective of whether the cost-sharing formula was 50:50, 60:40 or 70:30.

His proposal came after BJP and JD(S) legislators walked out of the Assembly demanding a farm loan waiver of up to Rs 2 lakh per farmer.

Shivakumar also referred to the farm loan waiver announced by the UPA government under former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and said cooperation between the state and Centre was necessary during the present drought.

Opposition questions adequacy of relief

Leader of Opposition R Ashoka criticised the Rs 2,500 assistance as insufficient and renewed the demand for a farm loan waiver. Parameshwara proposed that the Assembly pass a resolution urging the Centre to declare the drought a national disaster, noting that several states were facing severe drought conditions.