Focus on linking rural workers, farmers with employment to tide over drought scenario: Jharkhand CM 

Ranchi, September 2: Chief minister Hemant Soren on Friday chaired a review meeting to assess the drought scenario in the state at Ranchi.

Hemant Soren sought detailed information from the officials about the low rainfall and transplanting of crops in various districts and blocks of the state and directed district  officers to prepare a detailed plan at the earliest to provide relief to the people living in rural environment along with farmers, livestock farmers and laborers from drought.

The Chief Minister categorically said that all the concerned departments should prepare a detailed action plan to deal with the drought.

“Make sure to give benefits to farmers and laborers by making schemes in agriculture, animal husbandry, irrigation, rural development, MNREGA and drinking water and other sectors,” said Soren.

In view of the drought situation, the Chief Minister gave instructions to the officers to start kutcha works related to soil. He asked them to start construction of kutcha road construction, pond- and dobha construction, construction of bunds in the fields etc. in rural areas, so that farmers and laborers Relief can be provided livelihood through the schemes.

 The Chief Minister told the officials that due to less rainfall in many areas of Santhal Pargana and Palamu divisions, a situation of water crisis has arisen for agriculture, drinking water and livestock. In such a situation, senior officers should visit these areas and get information about the ground reality there and prepare a report to deal with it and give it to the government, so that effective steps can be taken as soon as possible.

The Chief Minister said that special attention needs to be paid to ensure that there is no migration of farmers and laborers from the state due to drought by connecting them with employment and providing them wages.

He also asked to prepare a full report of other options that can be adopted to deal with drought and which plans can be implemented related to it. The Chief Minister also asked the officials to take full information about the preparations being made by the drought affected states to deal with the drought.

The Chief Minister was informed by the officials that according to the rainfall situation in the state till August 15, 131 blocks are in the state of moderate and 112 blocks in the state of severe drought. At the same time, so far only 37.19 percent of the crops have been sown in the entire state. In this, 30 percent of paddy has been planted, 63.81 percent of maize, 44.95 percent of pulses, 40.67 percent of oilseeds and 28.87 percent of coarse cereals.