Karnataka begins drought relief payments, seeks Rs 22,400 crore from Centre
Chief Minister DK Shivakumar launched the first Rs 2,500 instalment for farmers hit by the 2026 monsoon drought.
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara launched the distribution of the first interim input subsidy instalment on Thursday. The state is paying Rs 2,500 to farmers affected by crop losses during the 2026 monsoon, according to ANI and The Pioneer.
The first instalment is part of a total Rs 5,000 assistance package, capped at two hectares per farmer. The remaining amount is expected to be released within three weeks. The state is using its own funds while awaiting a response from the Union government regarding a Rs 22,400.58 crore relief memorandum.
The state government has declared 226 taluks drought-affected after receiving 551 mm of rainfall, a 35 per cent deficit against the normal 852 mm. A joint survey found that crops across 57.93 lakh hectares were damaged, with estimated economic losses of Rs 62,481.88 crore.
The demand for central assistance includes Rs 7,943.55 crore for crop-loss subsidies, Rs 1,727 crore for drinking water, Rs 583.04 crore for livestock, and Rs 12,146.99 crore for livelihood assistance for 61.91 lakh small and marginal farmers, according to ANI.
Parameshwara, who is also the Revenue Minister, has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to request urgent assistance. He noted that current relief rates do not reflect actual cultivation costs for seeds, fertiliser, and labour.
Beneficiaries are being identified through the FRUITS database and the Digital Crop Survey. Payments are being transferred directly to bank accounts via Aadhaar-based Direct Benefit Transfer to ensure farmers do not need to visit government offices.