Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar will head the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on the effective management of issues related to drought. The EGoM, constituted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in April 2012, was earlier headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee who resigned to contest the Presidential poll.

The EGoM is authorised to review the situation and take quick and timely decisions” on policy and other matters for effective management of drought and related issues.

Monsoon rains, the life line of Indian agriculture, have been deficient by 22 per cent so far this year across the
country and the situation is worrisome in Karnataka and central Maharashtra.