File photo: Drought-affected farmer in Andhra Pradesh.
Congress today asked the government to announce a special package for farmers affected by drought and floods saying the country would not survive if their condition continued to be precarious.
Initiating a debate on flood and drought situation in the country, Ravneet Singh (Congress) said there should be measures to save farmers from natural calamities like drought and floods like special assistance to small farmers and crop insurance schemes.
Reminding the NDA government of previous UPA regime's Rs 72,000 crore loan waiver scheme that benefited four crore farmers, Mr Singh said the Centre must draft a new scheme for farmers to help them in crisis.
"When the farmers are safe, the country will be safe," he said.
The Congress member said drought like situation prevailed in 11 out of 22 districts in his state of Punjab where farmers need urgent government assistance.
Mr Singh said though the 2014 budget has announced government's plans to introduce bullet trains, there is no mention about how to help the farmers, their storage facilities and logistical provisions.
M Chandrakasi (AIADMK) asked the government to do the needful to develop modern early warning system for natural disasters like tsunami to allay the apprehensions of the people living in coastal areas.
Mr Chandrakasi said Tamil Nadu is the worst affected state whenever there is cyclone, floods or drought and hence the central government must provide adequate funds to the southern state.