SOS for Central aid

By Aarti Dhar

RAIPUR, DEC. 5. Already faced with largescale migration due to acute drought conditions, the Chattisgarh Government fears worse days ahead if the Central Government does not come to its rescue immediately by way of monetary relief and generous grant of foodgrain.

Several lakhs of residents have left their homes in the past couple of months to earn their daily bread in the neighbouring States of Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and even Bihar. Though an annual phenomenon, migration began early this year and it is feared that if the situation does not improve, not many would come back. Approximately 15-20 per cent of the farmers used to migrate to other States, where they worked as casual labourers for a few months and then return. This time round the percentage is believed to have gone upto between 30-35 per cent.

According to the Chattisgarh Chief Minister, Mr. Ajit Jogi, though the Prime Minister has assured him all assistance, the Central Government has only agreed to give Plan Advance and foodgrain under the Food for Work Scheme, since the National Calamity Fund has been wound up on the recommendations of the Eleventh Finance Commission. However, New Delhi has not issued any final order on the grants under the two schemes to bail out

Chattisgarh from this challenging situation. The State Government has demanded a Central Assistance of Rs. 570.61 crores to combat the unprecedented crisis of which Rs. 441.34 crores would be used for employment generation.

Mr. Jogi fears the situation would worsen if steps were not taken now. The State Government has relaxed rules to initiate developmental works to create more jobs. A Central team has already visited the drought-hit State to assess the extent gravity of the situation. It has already sent its report to the Union Agriculture Ministry and is awaiting clearance.

The entire Madhya Pradesh region gets scanty rainfall during the monsoon due to early withdrawal of South-West monsoon resulting in severe damage to the paddy crop and creating an acute drinking water problem. The erstwhile State of Madhya Pradesh had already sought assistance from the Central Government of which Rs. 189 crores was earmarked for the Chattisgarh region.

But things changed after Chattisgarh was carved out as the 26th State of the country on November 1. As many as nine of the 16 districts of the new State experienced deficient rainfall, the shortfall ranging between 20-32 per cent.

The problem has been compounded by the erratic nature and uneven distribution of rainfall, particularly in August and September causing damage to kharif crop and lowering of the water-table.

The reservoirs and tanks could be filled upto 25-30 per cent of their capacity. Due to the early withdrawal of monsoon in most of the districts and inadequate collection of water, there is likely to be a 50 per cent drop in the rabi crop.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Other States
Previous : Farmers on a warpath
Next     : Bid to convert Church into temple: team