(a) whether the State Government of Bihar has submitted a status report to the Union
Government regarding the plight of farmers in Bihar on account of the scant rainfall in the
current monsoon year;
(b) if so, the action proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard; and
(c) if not, whether the Government proposes to issue any guidelines to the Bihar
Government in view of miserable condition of the farmers?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF
STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC
DISTRIBUTION(PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a)to (c): The Government of Bihar has submitted a memorandum for assistance from the
National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF) to combat drought.
There is ready availability of funds with the State Government under the Calamity Relief
Fund (CRF) to take immediate necessary remedial measures in the wake of natural calamities
including drought. Due to deficit rainfall during South-West monsoon, 2009, Government of
Bihar had declared 26 districts as drought affected and sought central assistance from National
Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF). The Central Government has approved Rs.1163.64 crores
from National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF) subject to adjustment of 75% of balance
available in the State Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) account. For the year 2009-10, the
Government of Bihar has an allocation of Rs.167.45 crores under the CRF which consists of the
Central share of Rs.125.59 crores and Rs.41.86 crores as State’s share. The entire central
share has been released to the Government of Bihar.
Besides, this, the Government of Bihar has sent a claim of Rs.21.52 crores which has
been approved by the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation towards reimbursement of
Government of India’s share of expenditure incurred under the ‘Diesel Subsidy Scheme’ for the
current financial year. Diesel Subsidy Scheme was introduced in order to mitigate the plight of
the farmers in drought affected areas including Bihar.
The Government of India has also been vigorously supporting the efforts of the State
Government with financial and logistical support under various schemes including Rashtriya
Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), National Horticulture Mission ( NHM), National Food Security
Mission (NFSM) & Macro Management of Agriculture (MMA). Advisories were issued to the
State Government on a regular basis to take appropriate steps in the wake of scanty railfall
leading to severe drought.