Diwali Lifeline: Karnataka to Provide Rs 5,000 Drought Relief to Eligible Farmers
CM DK Shivakumar announces Rs 5,000 drought relief for Karnataka farmers to provide support during Diwali via Direct Benefit Transfer.
In a significant move to support the agrarian community during the festive season, Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has announced a drought relief package of Rs 5,000 for eligible farmers. The initiative aims to provide much-needed financial breathing room to those distressed by severe weather conditions as the state celebrates Diwali.
Phased Disbursement via DBT
To ensure the funds reach the beneficiaries efficiently, the state government will implement the relief through a phased approach using Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). According to the Chief Minister, the payment structure is as follows:
- First Phase: Rs 2,500 will be transferred immediately to the farmers' accounts.
- Second Phase: The remaining Rs 2,500 will be released in the following days.
Highlighting the start of this process, CM Shivakumar released Rs 17.43 crore as the first instalment of input subsidy for 1,06,462 farmers in the Yadgir district, with each receiving Rs 2,500.
15 Districts Set for Immediate Support
The government is currently preparing payment files for 15 specific districts to expedite the disbursement of the first instalment. These districts include:
Uttara Kannada, Kolar, Koppal, Chamarajanagar, Dharwad, Ballari, Bidar, Bengaluru Urban, Haveri, Bengaluru South, Davanagere, Dakshina Kannada, Kalaburagi, Mandya, and Vijayanagara.
The second instalment for these farmers is expected to be released within 15 to 20 days. The Chief Minister acknowledged that while this amount might not fully compensate for the immense losses suffered, it serves as a vital gesture of support to improve the lives of farmers in crisis.
An 'Unprecedented' Crisis
Speaking at the Vidhana Soudha, the Chief Minister described the current drought as one of the most severe in living memory. He noted that despite warnings from the Central Government, most dams remained empty, with only the Krishna reservoir filling up.
The scale of the devastation is staggering:
- Crop Damage: Crops across 57.93 lakh hectares have been damaged.
- Affected Areas: 226 taluks have been officially declared drought-affected.
- Economic Impact: The state has suffered an estimated loss of Rs 62,000 crore.
Strict Adherence to Guidelines
CM Shivakumar emphasized that the declaration of drought-affected taluks was done strictly within the legal framework and based on direct assessments following Central Government guidelines. He stated that these decisions were made with the approval of the Revenue Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister, without succumbing to any outside pressure.
Future Funding and Political Friction
The Chief Minister further clarified that any remaining approved input subsidies, calculated under revised norms, will be released in a single instalment once funds are received from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), subject to eligibility.
Addressing the political climate, the CM mentioned that three Central teams have already visited the affected regions. He criticized opposition parties for focusing on politics rather than cooperation, asserting that the government has toured all three divisions of the state to boost public morale and protect the interests of the farming community.