The Government says, monsoon rain has been 17 per cent defecient so far in the country. According to the Ministry of Earth Sciences, from June till the 7th of this month, the country has received 83 per cent of its long term normal quantum of rains. Earlier, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, the Food Minister Prof. K.V Thomas said that four states like Karnataka, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra are facing drought-like situation. Noting that prices of certain essential items have risen in last three months, Prof.Thomas said, the government, however, has taken steps to tackle food inflation in view of drought-like situation in some parts of the country. On various steps taken to curb food inflation, he said, the government has been closely monitoring the drought situation in coordination with the state governments to ensure timely availability of basic inputs like seed and fertilisers.