Priyank Kharge seeks change in Centre’s drought declaration norms
Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge has called on the Union government to relax 2020 drought declaration norms, citing that current criteria hinder state-level disaster response. He also addressed local crop insurance compensation and political tensions regarding the opposition's recent activities.
Why it matters
The debate over disaster relief criteria highlights the ongoing friction between state and central governments regarding administrative autonomy and crisis management.
Home Minister and Kalaburagi district in-charge Minister Priyank Kharge urged the Union government to relax the norms governing drought declarations, arguing that the existing National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) guidelines were preventing States from responding swiftly to genuine drought situations.
Speaking to press persons in Kalaburagi city on Tuesday, Mr. Kharge said the norms revised by the Centre in 2020 should be reconsidered and the earlier criteria restored. He said States should be given greater autonomy to declare drought based on ground-level conditions, particularly in the interest of farmers.
“The present NDRF norms make it difficult for States to declare drought promptly, even when there is a genuine drought-like situation. The Centre should immediately review the 2020 norms and restore the earlier provisions,” he said.
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