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Famine forces Rajasthan's villagers to migrate

Kamla Bora in Jaipur

With almost all the drinking water sources drying up and little opportunity of gainful employment in drought-affected areas in Rajasthan, people have started migrating to neighbouring states.

The severe shortage of fodder has also forced cattle breeders to move out of their villages along with the animals in search of greener pastures.

Although migration is a routine feature during summer months in Rajasthan, particularly in the western parts, this year more people have left their homes in search of employment and fodder.

As per official figures, more than 25 million people and 30 million cattle are hit by famine conditions in the state, which is reeling under a famine for the second consecutive year.

The problem before the people this year is more acute because the neighbouring states of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh are also hit by drought. Thus, the two states where the drought-hit people of Rajasthan had been migrating to earlier, are no more attractive.

Therefore, the migration this year is towards Punjab and Haryana. Several cattle breeders have also moved with their animals to the areas fed by the Indira Gandhi canal in western Rajasthan. However, the migration to Jaisalmer and Bikaner areas fed by the Indira Gandhi canal poses yet another problem for cattle-breeders. A report from Jaisalmer said about 200 migrating sheep died after eating poisonous grass and many others fell ill because the new vegetation in canal-fed areas in desert is alien to them.

The migration of human and cattle population is more from Barmer, Jaisalmer, Nagaur, Pali Sirohi, Churu, Raj Samand and Udaipur which are hit by drought and famine this year. The city of lakes, Udaipur, is worst-hit as all its lakes are drying up. The famous Raj Samand lake in neighbouring Raj Samand district has also gone dry. In Udaipur district 73,000 out of 77,000 wells have gone dry, reports reaching here said.

Official sources confirm the migration of 22 lakh sheep and other cattle-head from famine affected areas but say it was not unusual. Such migration takes place every year as famine is a chronic problem in the desert state.

However, others feel that had the government taken famine relief measures in November last year itself, the problem could have been averted. As early as September last year it was evident that the state was heading for a famine but the state government did not do anything to avert the problem. Relief works were started only March. Even here, the relief operations were given a thrust only after a hue and cry was made in the state assembly by members cutting across party lines.

There have also been reports of migrating people abandoning their cattle-heads to their death in the desert areas. The heaps of carcasses can be seen while driving into famine-hit areas, with local newspapers giving full play to such pictures.

The famine relief work started by the state government are also considered inadequate. With the people complaining of non-payment of wages, the government is asking all district collectors to make payments on a fortnightly basis so that the migration is checked.

EARLIER REPORT:
Rajasthan gears up to fight worst famine in a decade

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