Thaindian News

New Delhi, Aug 17 (IANS) An Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM), set up to tackle the drought problem in the country, met here Monday to monitor the situation and take necessary actions.
The two-hour meeting was attended by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Commerce Minister Anand Sharma and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia among others.

However, the ministers refused to discuss the outcome of the meeting with the media.

The EGoM, headed by the finance minister, was set up last week with Pawar and Home Minister P. Chidambaram being its key members.

The panel also includes Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy, Rural Development Minister C.P. Joshi, Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee, Petroleum Minister Murli Deora and Ahluwalia.

The government has so far declared 177 out of India’s 626 districts drought-hit.

According to sources, the government was considering a package of measures to address the twin issues of drought and sharp increase in prices of essential commodities like pulses and edible oil.

Among the measures discussed Monday included the sale of grain in open market from stocks with state-run procurement agencies, duty concessions on import of edible oils and food grain and further subsidy on their sale through state-run fair-price shops.

The term of reference for the EGoM includes assessment and monitoring of the situation arising out of drought and deficient rainfall.

EGoM would take decisions and approve new and innovative schemes, besides examining the existing schemes for suitable modification.