Karnataka Drought Politics Intensifies as BJP Urges Rahul Gandhi to Visit Affected Areas

Bengaluru, October 14 (Daily Kiran) : BJP leader R. Ashok has urged Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to visit drought-affected regions of Karnataka. He wants Gandhi to evaluate the severity of crop losses and advocate for timely relief for farmers. Ashok criticized the state government‘s recent decision to provide an initial input subsidy of ₹2,500 per farmer, questioning its adequacy.

Karnataka has requested ₹10,000 crore to ₹12,000 crore from the central government for drought relief. Meanwhile, the state government has issued the first installment of ₹2,500 to approximately 50 lakh farmers impacted by the drought.

Under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) guidelines, farmers are entitled to a total relief of ₹8,500, which includes contributions from both the central and state governments. However, the central government has yet to release its share, prompting the state to provide the initial subsidy from its own funds.

The state government has already spent around ₹1,250 crore to assist 50 lakh farmers. In a letter to Rahul Gandhi, Ashok accused the Karnataka government of failing to provide adequate support to distressed farmers. He claimed that despite significant crop losses, farmers have not received substantial relief even after four months.

Ashok urged Gandhi to demand accountability from the state government and ensure that it matches the relief measures implemented by the previous BJP administration. He highlighted that Karnataka is facing one of its most severe droughts in recent years, with a 35% deficit in southwest monsoon rainfall, the worst since 1971.

The government has declared 217 taluks as drought-affected, estimating crop losses at ₹46,324.50 crore across approximately 47.09 lakh hectares. The scale of the losses has severely impacted the livelihoods and economic security of countless farming families, necessitating immediate government intervention.

Questioning the state government’s decision to provide only ₹2,500 per farmer, Ashok argued that this amount is insufficient to cover even basic farming costs. He emphasized that the announced aid falls short considering the extensive crop damage, rising agricultural debts, and increasing farming expenses.

In his letter, Ashok stated, “We need real and effective help, not just nominal assistance.” He urged the government to demonstrate its commitment to farmers by providing substantial financial support rather than merely making announcements.

To support his claims, Ashok referenced the assistance provided by the previous BJP government between 2019-20 and 2022-23. According to his letter, the government allocated ₹6,651.15 crore in input subsidies to 51.90 lakh farmers for crop losses across 57.43 lakh hectares.

He detailed the crop damage statistics from previous years, highlighting that in 2019, losses affected 9,72,517 hectares, with 6,71,314 farmers receiving ₹1,232.20 crore. In 2020, losses spanned 19,68,247 hectares, with 12,00,346 farmers receiving ₹941.70 crore.

In 2021, aid was given to 18,56,083 farmers for losses on 14,93,811 hectares, amounting to ₹2,446.10 crore, while in 2022, 14,62,841 farmers received ₹2,031.15 crore for losses on 13,09,421 hectares.

Ashok pointed out that the relief rates implemented during the previous administration were significantly higher than the current assistance. He noted that rates for rain-dependent crops were ₹13,600 per hectare, which included ₹8,500 from NDRF and ₹5,100 from the state. For irrigated crops, the assistance was ₹25,000 per hectare, comprising ₹17,000 from NDRF and ₹8,000 from the state.

He questioned why the current government is providing only ₹2,500 per farmer despite the severe drought, contrasting it with the more substantial aid offered during prior droughts. He called on the government to clarify why it has not extended similar support to farmers this time.

Ashok also criticized the delays in identifying and declaring drought-affected areas. He stated that farmers cannot afford to wait for bureaucratic processes while their crops wither and their financial burdens grow heavier.