Title: Requests the Central Government to increase the food supply to the State Governments to meet the floods and drought situation.
SHRI SUDHIR GIRI (CONTAI): Mr. Chairman, Sir, I am drawing the attention of the Government of India to a matter of serious public importance.
Natural calamities are taking place in this country each year. This year floods and drought took place throughout the country. I shall just mention the drought situation in some parts of the country. We had occasion to see with our own eyes the plight of the rural people in some districts of Orissa. Because of drought, some families have been compelled to leave their villages in search of food and drinking water elsewhere. They have been put to a very distressing situation. The State Government, with its limited resources, is not in a position to cope up with the serious situation. I would, therefore, urge upon the Central Government to come forward to help the State Government. They should at least increase the food supply to the State Government, increase provision under EAS and provide loans to small farmers at no interest.