(a) The existing norms for allocation of assistance to the drought
affected States;
(b) Whether the Government has set up a sub-group to consider relaxation
in norms for allocation of funds to the affected States; and
(c) If so, the details thereof ?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI KANTILAL BHURIA)
(a) to (c): A copy of the existing norms of expenditure for assistance from
Calamity Relief Fund (CRF)/National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF)
for natural calamities, including drought, is annexed .The High Level Committee
(HLC), in its meeting held on 5th August, 2004, approved revision/relaxation of
existing norms, as indicated below: ,
(i) ` Payment of input subsidy to farmers, other than small and marginal farmers,
for crop damage of 50% and above, occurring due to severe natural calamities,
for 2nd successive (or subsequent) years @ Rs. 1000/- per hectare, subject to
a limit of 2 hectares.
(ii) Relief employment to be provided to one person from every rural household
for a period of 10 days a month, where other employment generation schemes are
in operation in the relevant village. Where such schemes are not in operation,
relief employment may be provided for 15 days .a month. Wages will be the prescribed
minimum wage for unskilled manual labourer in the State concerned. Foodgrains
component would be 5 kg per person per day and Rs. 15 per person per day (CRF/NCCF),
with the State Governments concerned meeting the balance between these contribution
and the minimum wage, from its own resources.
(iii) The norm for cattle care in cattle camps is @ Rs. 18 per day for large animals and Rs. 9
per day for small animals.