The Gujarat government has decided to provide a special package of ₹1,300 crore for farmers of 45 more talukas of 16 districts that have received rainfall between 250-400 mm this monsoon.
Earlier, the BJP government in the state had declared 51 talukas, comprising 3,291 villages, as scarcity-hit due to less than 250 mm rainfall about a month ago. A relief package of ₹5,100 crore was announced for those talukas. With the current announcement, the government has announced a total package of ₹6,400 crore for 96 talukas.
Out of the 45 talukas, 14 talukas which received between 250-300 mm rainfall will get ₹6,300 per hectare assistance, while 12 talukas which got 300-350 mm rainfall will be given ₹5,800 per hectare assistance. And farmers in the remaining 19 talukas that got 350-400 mm rainfall will get ₹4,300 per hectare assistance.
According to Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, “In a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Saturday, it was decided to extend the aid to 45 more talukas of 16 districts that have received between 250-400 mm rainfall. The state government will be providing a special package of ₹1,300 crore to these talukas… For the 51 talukas that were earlier declared as rain-deficient, about ₹5,100 crore will be spent. But if the special package is taken into consideration and the cost of providing 10-hour power supply and fodder to these areas, then we will be spending over ₹6,500 crore in 96 talukas of the state.”
A sub-committee was formed to look into the hardship faced by farmers, and took the decision to include more talukas for financial assistance due to low rainfalls. The financial aid will be provided for a maximum of 2 hectares only. Framers having more than 2 hectares can avail of the aid for 2 hectares.
Patel also told that the cost of ₹1,300 crore of the special package will be fully born by the state government, while the Centre would providing ₹5,100 crore that will be spent on 51 “scarcity-hit” talukas.
