New Delhi: The government on Wednesday announced various relief measures for drought-hit areas of the country that includes increasing the number of guaranteed work days under MGNREGA to 150 days from 100 days and reducing interest rates on rescheduled crop loans to 7 per cent for this fiscal.
Announcing these measures, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said the government expects fall in production of coarse cereals and pulses in Kharif (summer) season although the monsoon deficiency has now come down to 8 per cent.
Pawar was briefing the media about the decisions taken by the empowered group of ministers (EGoM) on drought, headed by him, on Tuesday for providing relief in the drought-hit areas.
Four states -- Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan -- have declared drought in more than 390 taluks....
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07:36 PM, Sep 12, 2012
