Karnataka Government Approves ₹2,500 Drought Relief for Farmers

Bengaluru, October 29 (Daily Kiran) : The Karnataka government has announced a financial aid of ₹2,500 for farmers affected by drought across the state. This decision, made on Thursday, follows a commitment made during a recent special session of the legislature to support farmers struggling due to insufficient rainfall.

While the government determined that each eligible farmer would receive ₹2,500, the announcement has faced backlash from both farmers and political leaders. Critics argue that the amount is inadequate, with many calling for compensation of ₹25,000 instead.

Despite the criticism, the government proceeded with the relief distribution. Of the 240 taluks in Karnataka, 226 have been declared drought-hit. Instead of waiting for funds from the Central Government’s National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), the state has opted to use its own State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to issue the first installment of assistance.

Eligible farmers will receive the ₹2,500 directly into their bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, ensuring immediate support to those suffering losses due to drought. The government clarified that farmers do not need to submit separate applications to receive this aid. Beneficiaries will be identified using data from the Farmer Registration and Unified Beneficiary Information System software, as well as the Kharif crop survey database.

This initiative comes at a time when farmers are pressing for more substantial compensation to address the financial crisis caused by the drought. V. Sunil Kumar, a BJP legislator from Karakala and former minister, criticized the government, stating that the conditions attached to the ₹2,500 compensation reveal a lack of genuine support for the farming community.

The government’s actions will be closely monitored as farmers continue to advocate for more comprehensive relief measures.