Centre’s guidelines on drought relief sought

Kumar has meanwhile addressed a memorandum to the union government seeking fresh guidelines on the distribution of 'gratuitous relief' in drought-hit districts.

The standing disaster management guidelines provide for payment of Rs20 each to adults and Rs15 each to children per day. However, the state government has suggested a one-time distribution of a quintal of grain and Rs 250 in cash to each family.

The memorandum has asked for over Rs10,000 crore as the GR alone for 90 days. The total demand is Rs23,000 crore, including Rs10,000 crore for payment to people working for NREGA schemes.

Kumar said yesterday that he had discussed the issue with the Central team which visited the drought-affected areas of Bihar recently. "Only the able-bodied can work under NREGA and those who cannot, including children, should be provided GR," he said.

If the rains are not sufficient in September, the drought condition will deteriorate in October, Kumar said and added it may then be worse than the drought of 1967. He, however, added, "My work will speak in these testing times of drought in the same manner as it spoke when Kosi tragedy struck the state."

Foolproof arrangements are being made for the relief distribution, including supply of drinking water through containers. The state government is also going to import pulses. Preventive measures are being taken to check the rise in prices of essential commodities, the chief minister said.