People's Democracy

IN spite of the prediction of good monsoon, this year is going to face the worst drought since 1987. Till the end of July, the scant rainfall raised an alarm in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Orissa, Tamilnadu, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh Himachal Pradesh. Delhi, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh also partially faced prolonged dry spell. Preliminary assessment has indicated that out of 524 districts monitored by the agriculture ministry, 320 districts are fully affected so far. Half of the rainy season is over but so far out of 36 meteorological sub-divisions in the country, 20 have suffered from inadequate rainfall.

If we look at the recurring arrival of drought in the last century, we find that there were 7 drought years between 1901 and 1925; two drought years between 1926 and 1950; 6 drought years between 1951 and 1975 and 9 drought years between 1976 and 2000. This is the first drought year of the 21st Century and if the trend of the last century is any indication, we may have to face many more drought years in coming decades. Due to deficient rainfall and increasing use of ground water, the water level has gone down to the alarming low. Through the proliferation of deep tube wells, especially in the regions called granary of India, the percentage of net irrigated area under the tube wells had increased from 14.3 per cent in 1970 to 33.8 per cent in 1998. On the other hand, 41 per cent of total land was irrigated by canals in the 1970, but only 31 per cent got canal water in 1998. This is because of wrong irrigation planning and decline of public investment in irrigation by the central government.

Already there is huge loss of crops in different parts of the country. Madhya Pradesh is the highest Soybean producing state, but this year it may lose 50 per cent of the crop. Kharif crops are heavily affected. The oilseed, coarse cereals and pulses production is also damaged to the extent of 50 per cent so far. If this trend continues, it will adversely affect the next major crop of rice in Punjab, Haryana and Western UP. The farmers in some states have already lost a few thousand cows and other cattle and fodder shortage will be alarming in coming months. The state of Himachal Pradesh estimated that more than 75 per cent of the kharif crop is already lost. The loss is to the tune of Rs 366 crore. The state of Punjab’s calculation of the loss so far is above 50 per cent of the kharif crop. Rajasthan government has estimated loss of the kharif crop to the tune of Rs 4417 crore so far. The drought may affect the rabi crops also and thus total loss will be around Rs 7382 crore. Chhattisgarh has already demanded assistance of Rs 2000 crore from the central government. The government of Orissa also has estimated loss of Rs 3462 crore in paddy production. Whereas 7 Congress ruling states estimated the total loss of Rs 12,473 crore, the government has announced only Rs 714 crore assistance to all the 12 states from the Calamity Relief Fund, which is grossly inadequate. Besides, in some states like Bihar, part of West Bengal, Assam and Meghalaya there are severe floods taking many lives. There has been massive loss of property as well.

The small and marginal farmers are the worst victims. Due to the loss of crops, they are facing serious economic hardships. But the state governments and the central government have been slow to respond to this alarming situation. Some states like UP, HP, Chhattisgarh and MP have already declared their states fully or partially drought affected. Other states are still watching the situation. Now they should start anti-drought operations on war footing failing which this calamity would destroy the rural economy. They should immediately plan for alternative crops, collect good quality seeds for the purpose and start distributing such seeds among the farmers.

They should also start relief operations in a big way. Drinking water is already scarce. The human beings and animals will die due to non-availability of drinking water, if the arrangements are not made immediately. The food for work programme should start in rural areas without delay.

The worst sufferers are the agricultural workers in all the drought-affected districts. Due to the failure of rain, the agricultural operations are stopped in these states. There is no work for the agricultural workers. The report from Karnataka is very serious, especially in the border districts in North and Western Karnataka. A large number of workers are migrating to Maharashtra and Goa in search of work. Those who are staying back are suffering due to non availability of work, lower wages, shortage of drinking water and scarcity of cattle fodder. By and large there is no demand of labour and this is resulting in considerable wage rate decline. It is as low as Rs 12 per day for women and Rs 20 for men in northern districts. The wage rate in coastal districts also has drastically fallen. The situation is similar in other states. The migration of labour to other states has increased alarmingly.

To face this serious challenge the government should immediately come forward with urgent schemes for relief and rehabilitation. The taxes should be exempted in all drought-affected areas and recovery of bank loans should be suspended. Along with that, fresh loans should be given for alternative cultivation. Tube wells should be installed on war footing to provide drinking water. While our godowns are overflowing with more than 60 million tonnes of foodgrains people are starving. Immediate release of foodgrains from FCI godowns should be ordered and sent to all the affected states along with cash funds so that massive rural reconstruction work under "food for work" may be undertaken. This is very much necessary for the job for agricultural workers and poor peasants.

The panchayats should be involved in this massive effort. In many states the Panchayati Raj is not efficient as the panchayats are controlled by vested interests and rural rich. Many of them are insensitive to the sufferings of the poor. The government should activise them properly and see that money is spent for the poor and usual corruption of bureaucracy in relief work is checked.

The declining rural development and reduction in expenditure on irrigation are the main causes of dependence on monsoon. The Fund-Bank recommendation is followed by the government and it will seriously damage our agriculture. Export oriented agriculture on the one hand and export of agricultural products on the other hand are destroying our food security. The All India Agricultural Workers Union and All India Kisan Sabha should jointly take up this issue and build up massive movement in the country, specially in the drought affected states. All the state committees should assess the seriousness of the problem and formulate action programmes for the protection of the rural poor. Let us organise rallies before the BDOs and collectors and pressurise panchayats for genuine anti-drought programme and their implementation. We should also campaign against the grossly inadequate grant for relief work by the central government. The glaring discriminatory attitude in sanctioning grants for relief work against non-NDA ruled states must be exposed. We should build up wider movement against this callous and discriminatory attitude of the central government and demand immediate sanction and release of adequate funds for coping with this unprecedented drought situation.