Date:20/11/2002 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2002/11/20/stories/2002112003941300.htm

National

Too late, too little: Jakhar

By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi Nov. 19. The Chairman of the Kisan and Khet Mazdoor Department of the All-India Congress Committee, Balram Jakhar, today lashed out at the NDA Government, accusing it of not doing enough for the drought-hit farmers.

He said the relief of Rs. 2000 crores announced recently by the Task Force on Drought was "too little, too late''. The rider that the disbursement of this relief would later be decided by the Ministry of Finance, would further delay the relief reaching the farmers. The package of Rs. 2000 crores for drought and Rs. 237 crores for flood relief was too meagre to meet the needs of the suffering people, while the additional amount of relief declared for Rajasthan was an "eye-wash'' in the face of the enormity of the problem, he said in a statement here today.

The Prime Minister's announcement of postponement of recovery of loans and interest only touched a "fringe'' of the problem as only a fraction of the farmers took institutional loans, he said and demanded waiver of interest on loans to farmers in the 14 drought-affected States this year.