Poor rain: Govt to converge MNREGA & other schemes

The government on Monday said it will converge the MNREGA and other schemes to meet the challenges of drought-like situation in several states and enhance imports of commodities in short-supply to control price rise.

Terming the poor monsoon so far as "unfortunate", Finance Minister P Chidambaram said the contingency plans are in place to help farmers replant alternate crops as well as supply drinking water and fodder.

"Unfortunately, the south-west monsoon has been below expectations. Drought-like conditions have been reported from several states," he told reporters in New Delhi.

Monsoon is the life-line of the agriculture sector as only 40 per cent of the cultivable area is irrigated.

Rain has been 20 per cent lower during June-July, affecting kharif crops mainly coarse cereals and pulses.

Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan are facing drought-like situation.

"MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) and other schemes will be converged to meet the challenge of drought," Chidambaram said.

Last week, an empowered group of ministers (EGoM) on drought had approved diesel subsidy of 50 per cent to farmers for saving standing crops and about Rs 2,000 crore package for states affected by drought-like situation.