‘Provide swift relief to Jharkhand farmers’

RANCHI: Harsh Mander, the special commissioner appointed by the Supreme Court of India to advise it in the Right to Food case, met chief secretary Rajiv Gauba on Monday and asked the state government to initiate relief measures for the drought-affected farmers in the state where the Kharif crop has suffered damage due to deficit monsoon.
Mander was here on his periodic visit to review and assess the efficacy of the food security schemes in the state.During discussions with Gauba, Mander said that under parameters set by the Centre, declaring the state as drought-hit may take time and the farmers would continue to suffer if relief measures were not announced soon.
Gauba informed Mander that a block-wise report on the drought situation was sought by the state government and at least 100 of 260 development blocks are expected to have suffered around 50% damage in production.
“The state government has already taken steps in this matter. We have given directions to stock 10 quintals of foodgrain in the panchayat headquarters of the affected blocks,” Gauba informed.
The state overnment has also issued an order to allot work under NREGA within 15 days of receiving applications and also pay unemployment compensation in case of delay.
Prior to meeting Gauba, Mander convened a meeting with activists of the ‘Right to Food’ campaign and discussed various issues, including the recent implementation of National Food Security Act.
Advisor to the commissioner, Balram said that even after implementation of NFSA, ration cards have not been made available to the beneficiaries.
“The Supreme Court has ordered against the use of packaged food in the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) programme which has to be strictly implemented in the state and we have also called for the operation of Dal-Bhaat scheme at night,” he said.
The state campaigners resolved to hold a meeting with individual departments and ensure their role in proper implementation of food security.
“Under MGNREGA, people are getting employment for 14 days on an average whereas the Act guarantees 100 days of employment,” Balram said, announcing to hold a meeting of the civil society stakeholders on November 15 so that government could be pressurized into implementing the other food security schemes.