Rajasthan sees need to continue drought relief

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, JULY 1. The Rajasthan Government on principle has acknowledged the ``desirability'' of continuing the drought relief operations in the State till the next harvest. The State Chief Minister, Mr. Ashok Gehlot, has written a letter to the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, in this connection, seeking additional 6.5 lakh metric tonnes of wheat and an assistance of Rs. 577 crores.

Even when the State Government has not made any commitment so far to the ``Akal Sangarsh Samiti'' - which is spearheading an indefinite dharna near the Statue Circles here demanding continuation of the relief operation - it has extended the relief works till July 15. The drought relief operations which usually are carried out till the outbreak of monsoons were scheduled to end today.

Though it has never happened in the past - continuing the relief after the rains - Mr. Gehlot's letter gives the impression that he himself is convinced on the need for the same but is helpless. ``During the years of successive droughts of rare severity like the present one,it would be desirable to continue the relief works for 2-3 months,more particularly for the families living below poverty line, landless agricultural labourers etc.'', his letter tells Mr. Vajpayee.

``You will agree that mere sowing of kharif crops does not provide people with enough in terms of wages to eke out a living... The financial position of the State is precarious and it is well beyond our means to continue the relief works further, notwithstanding the need for it'', Mr. Gehlot points out.

Talking to a group of newspersons here, Mr. Ram Lubhaya, Relief Secretary, informed that the relief works would continue but with a lowered labour ceiling of 7 lakhs. That is downsizing by 10 lakh jobs as the current month had 17 lakh persons employed under various relief works.``Our resources are limited. We will have to concentrate on landless labour till some assurance comes from the Centre on wheat'', he noted.

The topic of continuing the drought relief was discussed between Mr. Gehlot and veteran journalist, Mr. Kuldip Nayar, when the latter had met him here on Friday.

The Chief Minister that time had assured Mr. Nayar of not closing down at least the works which were of pucca nature and needed completion.

The 7 lakh jobs which are to be retained in July are also linked to wheat payment which is under the Food for Work programme even when the Central assistance of wheat is to be ceased from June 30. The figure of 6.5 lakh metric tonnes of wheat requirement - quoted by Mr. Gehlot in his letter - is based on a labour ceiling of 17 lakh.

Mr. Gehlot in his letter to Mr. Vajpayee has promised him to continue with labour intensive works of a drought proofing nature.

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