Bhubaneswar, November 15, 2017: Odisha Government on Wednesday
urged the Central Government for an amendment of the existing norms of
assistance from State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster
Response Fund (NDRF) as damaged infrastructure needs to be fully restored in
case of any major disaster.
urged the Central Government for an amendment of the existing norms of
assistance from State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster
Response Fund (NDRF) as damaged infrastructure needs to be fully restored in
case of any major disaster.
Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi wrote a letter to Union Home
Secretary Affairs Rajiv Gauba in this regard. The Union Home Ministry is the nodal
Ministry of handing disaster management in the country.
Secretary Affairs Rajiv Gauba in this regard. The Union Home Ministry is the nodal
Ministry of handing disaster management in the country.
Padhi also urged the Centre to enhance the rate of agriculture
input subsidy to farmers affected by disasters especially for rainfed area, by
at least 50 percent.
input subsidy to farmers affected by disasters especially for rainfed area, by
at least 50 percent.
The Chief Secretary’s letter was in view of massive crop loss
in the State due to drought and massive pest attack on paddy crops for which
the State Government has already announced package from the SDRF.
in the State due to drought and massive pest attack on paddy crops for which
the State Government has already announced package from the SDRF.
While some districts of Odisha are facing drought situation
due to deficient and uneven rainfall during Kharif 2017, in certain districts
pest attack has also caused serious problems.
due to deficient and uneven rainfall during Kharif 2017, in certain districts
pest attack has also caused serious problems.
“The State Government has initiated various measures to deal
with the problem and is implementing a package of assistance for the affected
farmers. As per the existing Norms of Assistance from State Disaster Response
Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), farmers are eligible to
get agriculture input subsidy of Rs 6,800 per hectare for rainfed areas and Rs 13,500
per hectare for areas under assured irrigation,” Padhi said.
with the problem and is implementing a package of assistance for the affected
farmers. As per the existing Norms of Assistance from State Disaster Response
Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), farmers are eligible to
get agriculture input subsidy of Rs 6,800 per hectare for rainfed areas and Rs 13,500
per hectare for areas under assured irrigation,” Padhi said.
Stating that the rate of agriculture input subsidy is quite
low compared to the loss incurred by them, he has also urged the centre to fix
the minimum assistance to farmers at Rs 2000 for rainfed areas and Rs 3000 for
irrigated areas.
low compared to the loss incurred by them, he has also urged the centre to fix
the minimum assistance to farmers at Rs 2000 for rainfed areas and Rs 3000 for
irrigated areas.
The existing norms do not provide for expenditure on revival
of defunct Lift Irrigation Points which is crucial in a drought situation both
to save the standing crops and for taking up the next crops.
of defunct Lift Irrigation Points which is crucial in a drought situation both
to save the standing crops and for taking up the next crops.
The state government has urged the central government to
permit such expenditure from SDRF by making necessary amendment to the existing
SDRF/ NDRF Norms.
permit such expenditure from SDRF by making necessary amendment to the existing
SDRF/ NDRF Norms.