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No need to panic over drought: PM
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Tuesday August 18, 09 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that there is no need to panic on the drought situation in the country. He said we have a better understanding of how to handle a crisis and that there is adequate stock of wheat and rice in our godowns.
Schemes like NREGA and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana will help those affected, he said. Finance Minister Pranab Mukerjee said the Group of Ministers will meet on a regular basis and that the ground reality was that the drought has set in.
The Prime Minister made this statement after chief ministers of states that are facing drought headed to him to ask for central money to help the farmers in their state.
Meanwhile, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar told that the rainfall situation in India's rice belt is worrisome. He also said nearly half of India's districts, 207 out of the 533 districts, are drought hit or is facing drought-like situation. |
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