We have decided to cover about 7 lakh farmers for drought compensation: Karnataka Minister Krishna Byre Gowda

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 10 (ANI): Karnataka Minister Krishna Byre Gowda on Monday said that the state cabinet sub-committee has decided to cover about 7 lakh farmers who were eligible but have not been paid compensation so far for the drought last year.
Speaking to reporters, Krishna Byre Gowda said, "We have decided to cover about 7 lakh farmers who were eligible but have not been paid compensation so far. We have also decided to pay Rs 2,800 of gratuitous relief to about 17 lakh farmer families. We would have paid 40-41 lakh farmers in the state. This year we have already paid 1654 crores through insurance to farmers affected by drought. So the total amount the compensation would come up to Rs 6000 crores."
He further said that Karnataka got NDRF drought relief money only after the intervention of the Supreme Court.
He further said," Last year, the farmers in Karnataka suffered due to drought. We had submitted a memorandum to the Government of India seeking drought relief. Finally, when the Government of India did not respond, we had to resort to the intervention of the Supreme Court. After the intervention, Karnataka got NDRF drought relief money of Rs 3,454 crores out of which we have paid Rs 2,600 crores and 800 crores are yet to be paid."
He further said that this year above normal rainfall has been predicted for Karnataka.
"This year monsoon has begun strong. Pre-monsoon rains were in excess by 31 per cent. During the 10 days of monsoon so far, rainfall in the state has exceeded 70-72 per cent till now this year. The forecast predicts above-normal rainfall for Karnataka. We have a task on hand to prepare for excess rainfall. Last year was a drought. Climate change is a reality," he added.
He further said that the Congress government had no plans to roll back the guarantee schemes after the Lok Sabha polls.
"Cabinet is meeting this week. We are following a model of universal basic income to ensure that people at the bottom of the pyramid do get a part of the growth. We have economic obligation, moral obligation and constitutional obligation. Electoral criteria is not the only view to consider these programmes," he added. (ANI)