The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has said that the Centre will provide all assistance to the farmers in Andhra Pradesh, affected by drought. Addressing a meeting at Somayajulapalli in Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh today, the Prime Minister announced a number of welfare measures to the affected farmers. He said that in addition to the State Government providing Rs. 1.5 lakh to the families of those who committed suicide, the Centre would give an amount of Rs.50,000/- each as grant under Prime Minister's Relief Fund.

The Prime Minister expressed concern over the plight of the farmers and said that the Centre was very much agitated about the situation. He said that he would strive his best to provide all necessary help to mitigate their sufferings and to continue their agricultural operations.

The Prime Minister announced five employment generation schemes to relieve the farmers from indebtedness. Rs. One crore will be sanctioned for the construction of a minor irrigation tank to irrigate 500 acres in the village, Rs. 10 lakh to upgrade the Upper Primary school into a High School, provision of 100 houses to distressed families under Indira Awas Yojana, Rs. 20 lakh for construction of cement roads and drainage and a sum of Rs.10 lakh for providing protected drinking water through pipeline. The Prime Minster said that educational facilities would be provided to the children of the bereaved families.

Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy said that his Government was for the welfare of the farmers and all efforts would be made for their betterment. Dr. Reddy explained to the Prime Minister the woes of the farmers. The Prime Minister enquired each affected family member as to what they required from the Centre.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by the Minister of Information and Broadcasting Shri S. Jaipal Reddy; Union Minister Shri K. Chandrasekhara Rao; Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Smt. Panabaka Lakshmi and State Minister Shri K. Marappa. MPs Shri Jairam Ramesh and Shri K. Surya Prakash Reddy and all legislators of the district were present on the occasion.

Earlier in the day, on his arrival, the Prime Minister was given a warm reception at the Hyderabad airport by the Governor Shri Surjit Singh Barnala, Chief Minster Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, a large number of State Ministers, MPs and MLAs.