In view of sustained dry spell during the last Kharif season, as also in the early Rabi period in some part of the country, the Center has asked the affected states to submit memorandum for drought assistance immediately, according to a PIB release.
PIB efforts to spread this info widely have been aided by the union agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh who has posted this on his FB wall requesting states to respond.
In a communication to the state Government of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Jharkhand, Telagana and Ander Pradesh, Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers welfare has urged the states to intimate immediately number of drought affected districts in the state and whether drought has been declared in these area or not. States have also been asked to submit the financial memorandum for assistance from National Drought Relief Fund (NDRF).
On the receipt of this information, Center team will visit states to take stock of the situation and assess the assistance required.
So far memorandum for assistance for Drought Relief has been received from Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Central teams have visited three states and are currently on tour of Maharashtra for assessing quantum of assistance required by the states, the release reads.