Bihar, on Monday sought Rs 23,000 crore as straightaway help from the Centre to undertake the situation of drought in the state.

Mr. Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister informed that they need Rs 10,800 crore for supplying food-grain and cash assistance to every affected person. According to him, Rs 10,000 crore had been sought under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) and Rs 2,000 crore for giving diesel grant, fodder and farm inputs.

The State government was imaging a situation to worsen compared to the 1967 shortage that had affected exclusive Bihar, if the dry spell remained in the state.

Mr. Nitish also announced that he promises that no one will die of hunger in this situation of drought. The JD-U leader said that bare rainfall had almost ruined the paddy crop and the state government was planning to protect the winter crop.