By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net
Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan called on the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh at New Delhi today and drew his attention to the grave drought situation in the state. He informed the Prime Minister that as many as 157 tahsils in 37 out of 48 districts are reeling under severe drought.
The Chief Minister urged the Prime Minister to sanction a special package for a long-term scheme of Rs. 24,244 crore for six districts of Bundelkhand region and three districts of Rewa division like the Bundelkhand region in Uttar Pradesh, an official Press release said.
The Chief Minister also drew the Prime Minister’s attention to the problems of drought affected farmers saying that they are finding it difficult to repay the bank loans. He urged that Madhya Pradesh should be provided immediate benefit of policy restructuring in the form of special package in the context of bank loans outstanding against farmers in Madhya Pradesh. Referring to the problem of electricity bills outstanding against farmers, Chouhan requested for central assistance in this regard.
The Chief Minister pointed to the Prime Minister that the Central Government has fixed the maximum limit of 100 days for providing employment to the needy under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. He stressed the need for increasing it to 180 days.
Chouhan presented a memorandum to the Prime Minister seeking immediate assistance of Rs. 1548 crore for providing employment to the needy through drought relief works and making drinking water arrangements in drought-hit districts, the release added. ([email protected])