Impact on economy due to weak monsoon Agriculture continues to be mainstay of a large proportion of India’s population. India has about 108 million hectares of rein fed area which constitutes nearly 75 per cent of the total 143 million hectares of arable land.  In such areas crop production becomes relatively difficult as it mainly depends upon intensity and frequency of rainfall.  Estimates show that seasonal rainfall up to end July for the country as a whole is 19% below the long period average.  Therefore, monsoon deficit   would cause enormous strains to the farmers in drought hit areas.  It will also affect the overall performance of the economy. The general public will also be affected due to increase in food inflation, which is expected to rise.  Historically, droughts and widespread floods are accompanied by rise in food prices, hunger and malnutrition.  Therefore, the central and state governments have to  initiate steps to  mitigate the sufferings of the farmers in drought hit  areas by proving them compensation for the loss of crops, besides  providing alternative income earning opportunists  primarily by  broadening the  Mahatma Gandhi  National  Rural Employment  Guarantee Scheme. Various  schemes under MGNREGA   such as: 1) Water conservation and water harvesting;2) Drought proofing (including afforestation and tree plantation);3) Irrigation canals including micro and minor irrigation works;4) Provision of irrigation facility, horticulture plantation and land development facilities on land owned by households belonging the SC and ST or to BPL families or to beneficiaries of land reforms or to the beneficiaries under the Indira Awas Yojana of the Government of India;5) Renovation of traditional water bodies including de-silting of tanks and development;6)Flood control and protection works including drainage in water logged areas;7) Rural connectivity to provide all-weather access; and 8 Any other work which may be  initiated by  the  Government  may be intensified and insulated from corruption. Moreover the government may distribute the surplus stocks of food grains at subsidized prices to the needy and deprived people. Dr.C.Murukadas, Times of India, August 8, 2012