The Opposition Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) has said that the United Progressive Alliance Government was ill-prepared to face the drought situation in several States.

Former BJP President Mr Rajnath Singh accused the Government of ignoring indications that there could be a drought this year, and added that the situation had become complicated due to inadequate response from Centre.

Mr Singh said weak monsoon data patterns did not emerge overnight. Even after the pronouncement that any eventuality will be met by effective monitoring of the situation, no follow-up action has been taken, he said.

Free power supply

Mr Singh said the sowing season had been adversely impacted.

“To save the paddy crop from further rainfall deficiency in the drought-affected areas, the Government should ensure free power supply to paddy farmers,” he demanded. He said the dry spell had rendered a large number of small and marginal farmers jobless and they were being forced to migrate to urban areas. It is high time the Government introduced a Farm Income Insurance Scheme in the country, he added.

The BJP also asked the Centre to roll-back the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) regime. “The prices of fertilisers have spiralled by 100-300 per cent since its implementation. In the name of fiscal prudence, the farmers’ interest has been sacrificed,” he added.

He wanted the Centre to waive the interest payable on farm loans for this year and reschedule the loans in long term. “The farm loans should be given at zero per cent in near future, as done by some of our State Governments,” he added.

The BJP also demanded that the farmers living in drought-hit areas should be given input subsidy.

> jigeesh.am@thehindu.co.in

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