Rs.321-cr. relief package for the drought-hit

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, SEPT. 15 The Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, on Saturday unfurled a Rs. 321-crore relief package for the people affected by drought stalking across the State.

He announced the concessions and waivers while replying to a marathon two-day Assembly debate in which over 30 members participated.

The package includes 'drought pension' to 4 lakh old people, 5 per cent interest rebate on short and long-term loans designed to benefit 35 lakh farmers, waiver of surcharge on power dues of farmers, sanction of additional Rs. 10 crores under seed subsidy and Rs. 7 crores on cattle camps, developing fodder plots and feed supply, additional Rs. 50 crores for wage employment by utilising market committee funds and more important, waiver of special fees for school children and junior college students in the affected mandals.

Mr. Naidu said he was just informed that the Central Cabinet accepted his request for allotment of 10 kg of rice per individual per day under the `food for work' programme.

Drought pension beneficiaries would get Rs. 75 per month for 8 months involving Rs. 24 crores, the waiver of special fees would benefit 40.75 lakh school children and 3 lakh junior college students, interest subsidy on cooperative loans would cost Rs. 164 crores and waiver of power dues amount to Rs. 66 crores. This apart, the Government sanctioned an additional Rs. 10 crores on seed subsidy, Rs. 7 crores on fodder development also an additional Rs. 50 crores for taking up wage employment works by utilising funds available with Agricultural Market Committees.

The total benefit by way of concessions, waivers or sanctions would cost a total of Rs. 321 crores.

Referring to political criticism by the opposition, he said his Government was trying its best to provide succour to the drought- hit people against many odds. This was a time to join hands, rise above partisan politics and not to scuttle relief efforts. At a recent meeting of Chief Ministers, Congress Chief Ministers also underscored the need for a common understanding on basic issues affecting the people.

He reminded Congress critics that the neighbouring Karnataka Government, which was ruled by that party, admitted it was unable to fully utilise the 1.5 lakh tonnes of rice given to it because they did not have money for wage employment. Andhra Pradesh was much better placed than its neighbours whether in terms of power generation, plant load factor, investment on power sector, supply to farm sector and even GDP growth rate in a drought year like 2001 (being 6.70 per cent against all-India average of 5.2 per cent).

Mr. Naidu questioned the Congress credentials to fault his Government for letting down the farming sector, saying all the troubles of the farmers could be placed squarely at the door of the Congress which signed the WTO agreement and brought misery on the farmers.

It was strange that Ms. Sonia Gandhi blamed the Central Government for farmers' suicide in Karnataka while the Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, blamed the State Government for same happenings. Was this not double standard?, he asked.

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Section  : Southern States
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