Mallikarjun Kharge, the Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to request immediate central assistance for farmers in Karnataka facing a severe drought. The letter, dated October 3, highlights the critical drought conditions in the state and the pressing need for support to alleviate the distress of farmers.

According to Kharge, Karnataka is currently experiencing one of its most significant droughts in recent history, characterised by a marked deficiency in rainfall and extensive crop losses. He stated that these conditions have led to distress among lakhs of farming families across the state. The Congress leader noted that the state government has sought Rs 3,705.30 crore in assistance through the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to cope with estimated losses amounting to Rs 18,748.23 crore.

In his correspondence, Kharge specifically requested the prompt deployment of a Central team to Kalyana Karnataka to assess the extent of the drought damage firsthand. He urged that the full Rs 3,705.30 crore sought by the state be released without delay to provide immediate relief.

Key Proposals for Addressing Drought Impact

Among the specific proposals outlined by Kharge is the need for the Central government to calculate input subsidies for small and marginal farmers using updated Bhoomi land records from Karnataka, rather than relying on data from the 2015-16 Agriculture Census. This change, he argued, would help ensure that deserving farmers receive the necessary assistance.

Furthermore, Kharge has called for the expedited completion of drought declarations for eleven additional taluks that are currently undergoing ground-truthing. He proposed that these areas, along with any additional qualifying taluks, be recognised as part of a continuous drought event. This classification, he believes, will facilitate the process of obtaining central assistance for affected regions.

The Congress leader has also emphasised the need for enhanced support for drinking water security and the costs associated with alternative power supplies. He pointed out that reservoir levels in critical areas, such as the Cauvery and other hydel catchment regions, are exceedingly low, exacerbating the ongoing crisis.

Urgent Appeal for Humanitarian Response

In his letter, Kharge asserted that drought relief is a humanitarian issue that should transcend political disagreements between the central and state governments. He urged the Union government to act promptly and extend necessary assistance aimed at ensuring sustenance, fodder, water, and the overall livelihood security of farming communities.

He called for the issuance of assistance “on merit and with utmost urgency, uninfluenced by political considerations,” drawing attention to the plight of more than 31 lakh farming families enduring hardship across Karnataka. Kharge mentioned that he had also reached out to Union Home Minister Amit Shah with a similar request for intervention on behalf of the state’s farmers.

Karnataka’s situation remains dire, with the government declaring 177 taluks as drought-affected. Ground-truthing efforts are currently ongoing to assess the conditions in additional areas, underscoring the widespread impact of the drought across the state. The initial request for Rs 3,705.30 crore was made to assist 101 identified drought-affected taluks.

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