Food for Work scheme on till Sept. in drought-hit States

By Our Special Correspondent

New DELHI, JUNE 4 The Group of Ministers (GOM) on Drought Management has extended the Food For Work Programme to September 30 from June 30 in the drought affected States.

At a meeting held here today to review the drought situation, the GOM said apart from its continuation as a part of the Employment Assurance Scheme, the Food for Work Programme will extend to all labour intensive schemes with first priority to drought proofing, including water conservation/harvesting measures.

For implementing the programme, flexibility will be allowed in the matter of norms for wages and material component. States may, in ``suitable cases'' increase the wage component in relief linked works. In addition to the Below Povertyline Population, families of the Above Povertyline Population shall also be eligible for employment under the Food For Work Programme. The programme will be implemented in calamities other than drought.

The GOM noted that the overall drought management was ``satisfactory'' due to timely intervention of the Centre and adoption of good management practices by the affected States. The drought-hit States are Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Orissa, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal.

The GOM observed that the allocation of 15 lakh tonnes of free foodgrains under the Food for Work Programme had helped in creating more than 30 crore additional mandays to mitigate the distress of the affected people and had also created useful assets within local communities.

It was decided that those exploratory bore well which had been offered by the Central Ground Water Board to the States and at present not taken over by States, may also be utilised for augmenting drinking water supply availability under the Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme.

The GOM is chaired by the Union Finance Minister, Mr. Yashwant Sinha, with the Agriculture Minister, Mr. Nitish Kumar, the Food Minister, Mr. Shanta Kumar, the Water Resources Minister, Mr. A.C. Sethi and the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Mr K.C. Pant, as members.

More funds for drought

The Committee of Ministers for recommending allocations from the National Calamity Contingency Fund has approved the release of a further Rs. 112.25 crore to the drought-affected States of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Chhatisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa from the Fund.

The panel, comprising the Union Agriculture Minister, Mr. Nitish Kumar, the Finance Minister, Mr. Yashwant Sinha, and the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Mr. K.C. Pant, met here today to review the situation.

The Committee noted that earlier in January, it had approved an allocation of Rs. 280 crores to these States. The approvals are in addition to the recent release of Rs. 18 crores to Himachal Pradesh and Rs. 22 crores to Jammu and Kashmir for drought relief.

Besides, about 15 lakh tonnes of free foodgrains valued at about Rs. 900 crores at Below Povertyline rates have been provided to the affected States for undertaking relief works under the Food for Work Programme. The Railways have undertaken transport of free water and fodder in these States.

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