Bengaluru, 23 Oct (H.S.): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwar has urged the Centre to release urgent financial assistance after severe drought caused crop losses estimated at Rs 62,481 crore, affecting millions of farmers across the state.

In letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Parameshwar sought immediate intervention to support relief operations and protect rural livelihoods.

Crops across 57.93 lakh hectares have suffered damage ranging from 33 per cent to complete destruction. Losses exceeded 50 per cent in most affected areas, the letters said.

Karnataka received just 551 mm of rainfall during the southwest monsoon against the normal 852 mm, recording its second-lowest rainfall since 1956. Rainfall remained deficient on 79 of the season’s 122 days, disrupting agricultural activities and deepening financial distress among farming families.

The state has declared 226 taluks drought-hit and submitted a proposal seeking Rs 20,585 crore under the National Disaster Response Fund. The assistance would cover drinking water supply, livestock protection and input subsidies for damaged crops.

With approximately 61.91 lakh small and marginal farmers affected, the government has requested the immediate release of Rs 12,146 crore as urgent relief.

Parameshwar also sought Rs 427.20 crore under the Prime Minister’s Poshan scheme to provide nutritious meals to schoolchildren during summer holidays in drought-hit taluks.

A further Rs 70.96 crore has been requested for supplementary nutrition support to anganwadi beneficiaries.

The Deputy Chief Minister urged the Centre to prioritise revisions to existing crop-loss input subsidy norms during the Sixteenth Finance Commission period.

Disaster relief mechanisms must reflect changing agricultural costs and the growing frequency and severity of climate-related shocks, he said.

The prolonged dry spell has devastated crops, constrained farm operations and weakened household finances, making timely Central assistance essential for sustaining relief measures and helping affected families recover.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman