Lok Sabha Question No. 1861 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-03
Subject: Relief Schemes for Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Sadashiv Kisan Lokhande, Bharti Pravin Pawar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1861

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3 RD  MARCH, 2020

## RELIEF SCHEMES FOR FARMERS

## 1861.  SHRI SADASHIV KISAN LOKHANDE: DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Union Government provides assistance to farmers of Maharashtra during natural calamities;
- (b) if so, the names of the schemes under which assistance has been provided to Maharashtra during the last three years and the amount thereof;
- (c) whether unnecessary delay has been made in providing assistance and relief work during natural calamities in Maharashtra;
- (d) the reaction of the Government in this regard and the criteria and modalities to provide assistance and relief to farmers during natural calamities in States; and
- (e) the reformative steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) & (b): State  Governments undertake relief  measures  in  the  wake  of  natural  calamities from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) already placed at their disposal in accordance with Government of India's approved items and norms. Additional assistance is extended from the  National  Disaster  Response  Fund  (NDRF)  as  per  established  procedure.  The  State Government is responsible for disbursement of assistance to the affected farmers. The items and norms for assistance from SDRF/NDRF are available on Ministry of Home Affairs' website: www.ndminida.nic.in.

Details  of  amount  released  to  the  State  Government  of  Maharashtra  as  central  share under SDRF and assistance from NDRF in respect of notified calamities during the last three years is as under:-

(Rs. in crore)

| Year                       | Maharashtra          | Maharashtra   |
|----------------------------|----------------------|---------------|
|                            | SDRF (central share) | NDRF          |
| 2016-17                    | 538.88               | 2224.78       |
| 2017-18                    | 1810.125             | 00.00         |
| 2018-19                    | 1287.75              | 2088.59       |
| 2019-20 (As on 27.02.2020) | 1352.25              | 3431.22       |

(c) to (e): No  Sir. As  per  the  'Manual  for  Drought  Management,  2016',  the  Central Government  constitutes  and  dispatches  the  Inter-Ministerial  Central  Team  (IMCT)  to  the calamity affected  areas  within  a  week  of  receipt  of  the  Memorandum  from  the  State Government.  The  IMCT  submits  its  Report  for  the  consideration  of  the  Central  Government within 7 days of all relevant information provided by the State Government following the visit to the  drought  affected  areas.  The  Central  Government  usually  takes  a  final  decision  on  the assistance to the State from the NDRF within a month of the receipt of the IMCT Report.

The  report  of  the  IMCT  is  considered  by  the  Sub  Committee  of  National  Executive Committee (SC-NEC), headed by the Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) in respect of notified calamities coordinated by DAC&FW and by Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), in respect of notified calamities coordinated by MHA. Thereafter, the  High Level Committee (HLC), comprising of Home Minister, Finance Minister, Agriculture  Minister  and  Vice-Chairman,  NITI  Aayog,  considers  the  request  of  the  State Government based on the recommendations of SC-NEC thereon, and approves the quantum of assistance from NDRF.  This is, however, subject to the adjustment of the balance available in the State's SDRF, as determined by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

********