Does anybody love a good drought?

Other figures are equally alarming. Bundelkhand has recorded only 350-500 mm annual average rainfall in the last three years and less than 42 per cent of agricultural land is being irrigated, according to the Parmarth Samaj Sevi Sansthan PSSS, an Orai-based development organisation. Besides, over 90 per cent of rabi wheat crop has dried up in ravine areas, 60 per cent of kharif paddy crop was destroyed this year due to lack of irrigation and wheat couldn8217;t be sowed in 50 per cent of land. As a result, 206 farmers died of hunger or committed suicide last year, while 30-50 per cent of families migrated to other areas.

The compelling figures and worsening situation have failed to ruffle the politicians, with successive governments failing to acknowledge that the area has been facing a drought for three-four decades, let alone declaring it a drought-hit area see box.

Explaining the inaction, Relief Commissioner Umesh Sinha says the government can declare an area drought-hit only if it gets a report from the district magistrate. 8220;An average situation is managed at the district magistrate level by using the Instant Relief Fund,8221; he says.

With a semi-dry climate, the region gets little rain between July and September, and the water table has fallen at the rate of 45-50 per cent per year. Despite this, less than 42 per cent of agricultural land is irrigated by canals, tubewells, wells and ponds, the rest being dependent on rains. The conditions became worse in 2006 when more than 90 per cent of paddy crop dried up, resulting in the lowest production ever in the region. The produce of maize crops, lentils urad, moong, and other crops like peanuts and soybeans was also negligible.

It was not good news for the 82 per cent of people in the seven districts of Bundelkhand8212;Banda, Chitrakoot, Mahoba, Hamirpur, Jhansi, Lalitpur and Jalaun8212;who live in rural areas and over 80 per cent of whom comprise marginal farmers dependent on agriculture.

The only relief they can hope for is through the Bundelkhand Vikas Nidhi, which provides special packages to the area through the Planning Department. 8220;Last year, Rs 50 crore was given, besides a special package of Rs 100 crore for Bundelkhand,8221; says V. Venkatchalam, Principal Secretary, Planning Department. The amount is not enough to change the face of a drying Bundelkhand.

On failing to coerce various governments to declare the area drought-hit, farmers are now resorting to demonstrations, with groups like the Pathakol Adhikar Manch of Chitrakoot, Apda Nivaran Manch Bundelkhand, Pahunch Vikas Manch of Jalaun and Adivasi Manch of Lalitpur providing them a platform. These groups organised over eight events last year, and at one such rally in the state capital just before the polls, representatives of all political parties were invited. 8220;Except for Congress state president Salman Khurshid and NCP leader Ramesh Dixit, noone arrived,8221; says Sanjay Singh of PSSS.

Perhaps, the farmers should turn to the gods now. A prayer may be more effective than a plea to the politicians.

When is an area drought-hit?

8226; If the rainfall is less than 50 per cent of the average rainfall.

8226; If the sowing is done in less than 50 per cent of agricultural land.

8226; If 50 per cent of the total crops dry up.

8226; If the situation is resulting in hunger deaths.

Does Bundelkhand qualify?

8226; It has recorded only 350-500 mm annual average rainfall in the last three years.

8226; Wheat could not be sowed in 50 per cent of agricultural land.

8226; Over 90 per cent of rabi wheat crop has dried up in ravine areas and 60 per cent of kharif paddy crop was destroyed this year due to lack of irrigation.

8226; 30-50 per cent of starving families migrated to other areas in search of jobs.

8226; As many as 206 people died of hunger or committed suicides last year.