Concern over employment and relief measures
Recalling Rajasthan’s experience with drought, Gehlot said the impact of such conditions had been reduced over the years through measures including tubewells, handpumps and employment guarantee programmes.
He alleged that changes in the employment guarantee system had reduced people’s assurance of getting work on demand. The government, he said, would therefore need to ensure that adequate relief works were opened in affected areas.
Gehlot also questioned the implementation of chief minister Bhajanlal Sharma’s recent announcements in Barmer. He claimed that even three days after the announcement, the related orders had not reached the district collector.
“It should not remain only on paper. These issues have to be taken seriously if the government wants to deal with the situation effectively,” he said.
Government announces water, fodder measures
Sharma had on Wednesday announced that emergency drinking-water arrangements and tanker supplies would continue until December 31 in low-rainfall areas.
He also announced the opening of fodder depots in Barmer, Balotra, Jaisalmer and other affected areas. District collectors were authorised to sanction emergency works costing up to Rs 1 crore to facilitate quicker relief measures.
Gehlot further demanded a waiver of farmers’ loans, recalling that the previous Congress government had waived farm loans worth around Rs 14,000 crore.
He said Congress leaders at the block, district and state levels would visit affected areas to assess the implementation of relief measures. They would review whether relief works had been opened, workers were receiving payments on time and adequate arrangements had been made for drinking water and fodder.
The Congress leader’s remarks come amid concerns over the impact of low rainfall in parts of western Rajasthan, with water availability, livestock fodder and rural employment emerging as key issues ahead of the coming months.
With PTI inputs
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