The drought dilemma: why Rajasthan is ‘too poor’ to cash in on aid

At present, Central aid schemes like the National Calamity Relief Fund and the Employment Systems is such that if, say, a state wants Rs 100 from the Centre, it has to first pool in its share of Rs 25 to claim that money. The release of the next instalment depends on how the state has utilised the first.

‘‘We find it very difficult to compete with states like Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. They not only have political influence but also money.’’ says Gujjar.

He also talks of the ‘‘cumbersome process’’ of declaring districts ‘drought-hit’ where the patwaris send in reports which are verified by SDOs and then sent to the state government.

Statistics paint a dismal picture for Rajasthan’s seventh drought in 10 years:

• All 32 districts are going to be affected if it does not rain in the next few days.

• There are 15 districts which have had zero rainfall. The rest have had some pre-monsoon showers and some negligible showers. Out of their 130 lakh hectares, only 20% is irrigated. The state has been able to sow only 37% of the kharif crops.

• In the 18 districts drought-hit last year, developmental works are still being carried out.

All this spells trouble for a state where 70% of the population is dependent on agriculture and the officials say with this, almost all developmental work has come to a standstill.

There are 26 lakh BPL families in the state. ‘‘If we have to give one person employment from each family, it is going to 26 lakh people,’’ said Gujjar. In 2,000, they had made a record of sorts by providing employment to 17 lakh people. Last year, since the state did not have resources, money was cut from its plan outlay. Out of the 11 crores, it got from the Centre, it had to contribute Rs 2 crore.

If there is no rain in the next few weeks, the state’s demand is more than the money it has spent in the last 40 years — Rs 6,155 crores when they have spent Rs 5,000 crore since 1952. However, its immediate demand from the Centre includes seeds for fast growing oilseed aradai, fertisers and insecticide.

These minikits would cost them Rs 2,75,000 each. Seeds would cost Rs 1.35 crore. To dig ponds to catch any rain if it comes, the tag is Rs 3.50 crore. The other big problem is fodder. ‘‘Earlier we could send our cattle to neighbouring states, no we cannot do that because there is drought even there,’’ said Gujjar.

Officials recall how in 1987, when there was drought, cane was sent from UP farms to Rajasthan for their cattle. ‘‘Rajiv Gandhi travelled from Jaipur to Jodhpur to Udaipur,’’ said Gujjar. ‘‘This year, we have made our demands, let us see how much we get, our hopes lie more on the rain Gods than the Centre,’’ he said.