The Group of Ministers (GoM) on drought, headed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, has increased the number of days one will get guaranteed work in the drought-hit areas under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) from 100 to 150 days in a year.
It also sanctioned additional funds to the drought-hit states under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme that gives Gujarat Rs 245.86 crore (Rs 2.46 billion), Maharashtra Rs 167 crore (Rs 1.67 billion), Karnataka Rs 286.82 crore (Rs 2.87 billion), Haryana Rs 115.47 crore (Rs 1.15 billion) and Punjab Rs 37.2 crore (Rs 372 million).
Pawar said the Union Cabinet has already decided last week to reschedule crop loans of farmers in the affected drought areas with reduced interest rate of 7 per cent.
