Death precedes relief again

The villages in Kharal block of drought-hit Sheopur on the Rajasthan border are an excellent destination to test the efficacy of the drought relief programmes.

Last year, in the neighbouring districts of Baran in Rajasthan and Shivpuri in MP, several starvation deaths were reported. While both governments denied the deaths, they admitted to widespread malnutrition in the area and did not rule out hunger-related deaths. The facts that emerged in The Indian Express reports was that the problems could have been averted if simple steps were undertaken.

These steps included execution of drought relief work in time, provision of grain at panchayat level to ensure that the grain could be provided to those who need it most and proper compilation of the below property line (BPL) lists.

Cut to six months later. As reported in The Indian Express, cattle are dying in large numbers in this region. While drought relief work is underway in villages close to the main road connecting Sheopur to Shivpuri, in villages like Sarsunwari, barely 10 km from the main road, no relief work has started. Asked about grain stocks, Sheopur Collector Hari Singh Shekhawat says the stocks are available with the Patwari, who is almost never available.

As of May 12, a new survey for BPL families is underway in the state. But this is only likely to add to the problems of the Sahariyas most of whom qualify for the card.

Every year after Holi, Sahariya men move out of their villages to pick up work during the harvest. Most return by this time of the year. But not this year. Says Avtar Sahariya in Silpuri, ‘‘This year, there was not enough work during the harvest. Even now, since there is no work, 40 people have left looking for work. I am also planning to leave shortly.’’ The result will be that many who need help from the drought will miss out getting a BPL card precisely because of the drought.