Keeping its date with suffering

It was in the '80s that Kalahandi, with its images of starvation and death, had burst into national consciousness. Much tears had been sh...

It was in the 8217;80s that Kalahandi, with its images of starvation and death, had burst into national consciousness. Much tears had been shed over the extreme poverty of the region, the prime minister himself had rushed to the spot and several central teams had followed. The promises made then have dried up over successive years. Only drought and deaths remain.

It is a sinister cycle that never ends in Orissa. Almost every alternate year, it starts with inadequate rainfall, moves on to drought and finally, starvation deaths.

This year has been no different. While Kalahandi is keeping its date with suffering, the situation in several other pockets is even worse. According to some, the state is seeing its worst drought in three decades. Out of the total 314 blocks, 127, with a population of 1.7 crore, have received 40 per cent deficient rainfall. To add to the misery, several rivers in the state are overflowing, leading to floods in some districts.

In Kashipur block of Rayagada district, diaorrhea andmalnutrition-related illnesses are believed to have claimed 150 lives in August alone. Bolangir district 8212; where not even 4 per cent of the agricultural land has irrigation facilities 8212; is facing a similar crisis. The drought of 1996 had ruined the district8217;s economy and its farmers are now facing a repeat situation.

The state Government8217;s response has been typical. While relief is yet to reach the affected districts, visitors have been dropping in with unfailing frequency. From ministers to Opposition leaders have come calling.

Chief Minister J.B. Patnaik and several of his Cabinet members have made a round of the area. As have the three Union ministers from the state. While Union Minister of State for Coal Dilip Ray and Union Minister of State for Surface Transport Debendra Pradhan warned of an impending crisis, the Biju Janata Dal BJD chief and also Union minister, Naveen Patnaik, is making his round now.

Bijay Mahapatra, chairman of the BJD Political Affairs Committee, also toured the districtsof Koraput, Bolangir and Kalahandi 8212; among the worst-affected 8212; recently in his capacity as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee PAC. At the end of his trip, he claimed that over 1,000 people had died of diaorrhoea, malnutrition and other diseases in these areas. Janata Dal president Ashok Das has said the drought would be the worst of the century.

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A white paper presented by the state Government in the Budget session of the Assembly had cautioned that unless there was more than adequate rainfall in August, a drought could not be avoided. The month has come and gone, and the rainfall data do not promise any hope. Orissa has received 560 mm rainfall so far, which is 22 per cent less than normal. In 1997, which was a good crop year, the state had received 739 mm rainfall.

According to official sources, the kharif crop has already been damaged in Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Bolangir, Sonepur, Angul, Phulbani, Boudh and Sundergarh districts. In a memorandum to the Centre, the state Government hasassessed the total crop loss due to the drought as Rs 879.75 crore.

Normally, 63 lakh hectares are cultivated during the kharif season, out of which paddy covers 42 lakh hectares. However, because of the inadequate rainfall this time, paddy has been cultivated in only 37 lakh hectares. The crop has suffered damage in various degrees in at least a third of this land. The production of foodgrains is estimated to come down by 10.71 lakh tonnes this year.

The Government has been quick to launch damage-control measures. The problem is their implementation. Though Rs 2.5 crore have reportedly been sanctioned to activate 10,500 lift irrigation points, if the collectors are to be believed, the money is yet to reach the districts. A decision has also been taken to provide diesel water pumps to farmers at half the price.

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Feeding programmes, including the mid-day meal scheme, and porverty-alleviation projects to generate employment have also been started. The Government has even formulated a 8220;pre-Rabi8221; actionplan.

However, the Opposition feels these measures are ad hoc. It points to the delay in going to the Centre for financial assistance to deal with the situation, particularly as the state Government is facing a severe resource crunch. It was only on Wednesday that the Orissa Government sent a memorandum to the Centre demanding Rs 426.38 crore, saying it cannot spare any more money to fight the drought.

Besides this, the Government has also sought funds for the areas affected by floods, which will need relief for rebuilding of houses, health measures and repair of critical infrastructure.

To be fair to Patnaik, the Centre is not free of blame. Janata Dal president Ashok Das notes that it is yet to depute a team to study the drought situation in Orissa. Revenue Minister Jagannath Patnaik has been demanding that such an assessment be made urgently.

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However, the BJD and BJP 8212; which are partners in power at the Centre 8212; see this as attempts by the state Government to pass on the buck. 8220;The stateGovernment is not able to spend the funds for poverty-alleviation programmes,8221; points out BJD leader Mahapatra.

In fact, only 23 per cent of the money allocated under such programmes 8212; including the Jawahar Rozgar Yojana JRY and Employment Assurance Scheme EAS 8212; has been spent this year, as compared to 28 per cent in the corresponding period last year. In Rayagada district 8212; one of the worst-affected 8212; less than 10 per cent of the funds earmarked have been spent.

Meanwhile, the Long Term Action Plan LTAP 8212; popularly known as the KBK Kalahandi, Bolangir, Koraput scheme 8212; is yet to take off due to resource constraints. Though the Centre has announced a new KBK scheme and the state Government has submitted an action plan, funds are yet to be allocated.