The Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi declared a slew of sops for farmers facing hardships due to crop failure in wake of drought like conditions due to deficient rainfall, on the sidelines of his Vivekananda Yuva Vikas Yatra.
Modi stated that the state government has decided that interest on the crop loans which would be around Rs 300 crore shall be borne by the state for farmers hit by the drought like conditions. Besides, the government has also decided to give 50 percent relief in the electricity bills of such farmers.
This year the monsoon arrival in parts of Western coast was somewhat delayed. Around June 17 it had touched Gujarat coast but afterwards remained static for a long time which lead to drought like conditions in many parts of the state.
In first spell of monsoon, the regions of Kutch and Saurashtra were the worst hit reporting over 70 percent deficient rainfall. But with rains lashing the state in the last fortnight the situation has now changed somewhat. Several farmers mainly from Saurashtra region had committed suicide due to crop failure.