51 talukas that received less than 250 mm rain declared scarcity-hit; number of related announcements made by Gujarat govt

Gandhinagar: Gujarat government today declared 51 talukas of Gujarat as scarcity-hit. They include all 10 talukas of Kutch, 9 talukas of Banaskantha, 8 talukas of Patan, 3 talukas of Ahmedabad, 7 talukas of Surendranagar, 4 talukas of Mahesana, 3 talukas of Morbi, 2 in Jamnagar, 2 in Devbhumi Dwarka, 2 in Rajkot and 1in Bhavnagar district.

Making this announcement, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said, earlier, as per the Government of India guidelines, lesser than 125 mm (5 inch) rainfall was a benchmark for declaring area as scarcity-hit. However later the guidelines were made more liberal. The Government of Gujarat has today decided that all 51 talukas that have recieved rainfall lesser than 250 mm are to be declared scarcity-hit with effect from 1st December.

Patel said, farmers in scarcity-hit talukas who completed sowing but suffered failure of crop due to insufficient rain would get per hectare Rs 6,800 aid in limit of 2 hectae per farmer. This fund will come from the Centre but managed by the State government.

He said, per day Rs 70 aid will be given for big cattle and Rs 35 for small cattle in cattle camps approved by government for two-month period. In rest of the period the amount of assistance will be Rs 25 instead of Rs 70 per cattle.

Patel said the State government as advanced measure has decided to purchase 4 crore kg fodder for scarcity-hit areas.

He said, programme for daily upto 4 kg fodder for Rs. 2 per kg will be extended to 51 talukas by government for individual cattle owners.

He also said, the mid-day meal programme will be given even in holiday and vacation period in primary schools. Lakhs of children who study in primary schools will benefit from this initiative in 51 scarcity-hit talukas.

Under MGNREGA programme, one person can be given maximum 100-human day employment but this year it will be increased to 150 days in 51-scarcity hit talukas, Patel said.

DeshGujarat