Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps his Department is taking to help victims of drought in India.

The Government of India neither seeks nor accepts international assistance for disaster relief. The State and the Central governments of India have taken steps to provide relief to those affected due to drought. The UK ended traditional aid to India in 2015 and we no longer give any money to the Government of India.

As part of our ongoing investment and technical assistance programme in India, DFID is supporting Naireeta Services Private Limited for Bhungroo (Rainwater Storage Innovation Technology) which helps farmers store water during seasons of high rainfall to be available in time of drought.