ELECTIONS '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
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Govt assistance to all farmers affected by crop failure

The Union government has decided to direct the Reserve Bank of India and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development to provide assistance, on the pattern of that given in Andhra Pradesh, to all farmers affected by crop failure in the country.

This was announced by Minister of State for Agriculture Sompal in the Lok Sabha, during Wednesday's question hour.

Intervening, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said it was a ''serious matter'' that so many farmers had committed suicide. In an agriculture-oriented country like India, it was ''unfortunate'' that the farmers were driven to such an extreme step.

He said teams have been sent to the affected areas. If necessary, the Centre would provide additional financial assistance to the states to help out the farmers.

He said there was no single reason for the farmers to commit suicide. It was a combination of causes -- excessive use of pesticides, lack of timely rains and improper advise from extension workers.

UNI

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