Akhilesh writes to Modi for foodgrains in drought-hit areas

Lucknow, March 16: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure availability of enough foodgrain to people in drought-hit areas of the state for at least six months.

In a letter to Modi today, Yadav said that in keeping with the financial condition of the state, it was not possible to bear the expenditure of the foodgrains although it was ready to bear the burden on its distribution, transport and margin money.

The letter also referred to an earlier letter sent on February 3 through which the request had already been made, an official release said.

Yadav said out of total 75 districts, 50 including those in Bundelkhand area are hit by drought where 28 lakh families come under the 'antodaya' category.

The state government is of the view that in these drought-hit districts all the people, without discriminating on whether they are under the BPL or not, need to get the benefit of 'National Food Security Act- 2013" and they should get three kg wheat and two kg rice per person per month for six months so that they could deal with the drought conditions in a better manner, the letter said.

PTI