BHARAT DOGRA
SEVERAL regions of India have been facing an agro-ecological and food
security crisis in recent years. Villages have been fighting a battle for survival
amid water shortages, adverse weather conditions, ruined crops and
high indebtedness resulting in the distress sale of land.
A study in April of four blocks in Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh by
Action Aid brought to light certain alarming facts.
1.Cutting and harvesting of the wheat crop, the most important source of
livelihood for farm workers is being taken away with the introduction of
combine harvestor machines in several villages.
2.Even in areas where the water-table is receding, highly water intensive
crops such as mentha are being introduced, leading to further scarcity of
water.
3.Farmers are committing suicide on account of
indebtedness.
4.No relief has reached even those areas which
have reported starvation deaths.
The study was part of the Hunger Monitor
Project, and was conducted with the help of voluntary
organisations such as Parmarth, Akhil Bhartiya Samaj Seva Sansthaan and Vidya Dham
Samiti. The four blocks taken into consideration
for the study were Madhogarh and Rampura
(Jalaun district), Manikpur (Chitrakut district),
and Naraini (Banda district). About 13 villages
were visited to hold detailed discussions with
people. Certain conclusions emerged from the
study.
ADVERSE CHANGES IN WEATHER: Significant changes in weather patterns during the last four to five years have adversely affected farming. In comparison to the situation 25 to 30 years ago, there has been a sharp decrease in rainfall in recent times. Moreover, rain tends to be restricted to lesser number of days; cases of untimely rain have become common, causing more harm than good. The damage caused by hailstorms, frost and storms has increased; Jalaun witnessed a storm which blew away harvested wheat of several farmers. The administration should be prepared to cope with such emergency situations.
SHOCKING MALNUTRITION: Research on whether people were getting enough nutritionally balanced food (the right amount of grain, pulses, vegetables, milk and ghee) found that in Naraini and Manikpur blocks, only 5 per cent could access such food, while in Madhogarh and Rampura blocks the figure was just 10 to 15 per cent. The situation in some hamlets of Kol tribals and in Ragauli was appalling. Also, the availability of pulses, vegetables and milk has declined over time.
HUNGER IS A REALITY: Another cause of concern was that there were families who couldn’t even afford one frugal meal, such as roti-chatni or roti-namak (dry chapati with salt, or a paste of salt-chilly-onion). In Madhogarh, Rampura and Manikpur blocks about 25 per cent of families suffer from hunger of this form, while in Naraini block the percentage of hungry people was even higher.
A THREAT TO THE VERY SURVIVAL OF VILLAGES: The high levels of debts, severe water-storages and heavy dependence on migration has threatened the very survival of some villages. Such a dismal scenario is in stark contrast to a couple of decades ago, when these very areas were the pride of farmers. How fast has the decline been? Factors such as the decline of traditional water sources, distorted government policies, and severing of community ties need to be explored.
STARVATION DEATHS AND FARMER SUICIDES: Five hunger deaths have been reported from the Harijan basti of Nahri village (Narainiblock). People here were so fed up of government apathy that they had announced a threat of collective suicide last year. Government officials made a lot of promises but there has been no real relief except a payment of Rs 10,000 to the family of a hunger victim. From employment guarantee schemes to public distribution systems, everything is in shambles even in this village which has received a lot of attention lately due to several suicides.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES BETRAY HOPES OF PEOPLE: There were high hopes from rural employment guarantee schemes not only to provide employment near home but also to speed up soil and water conservation work, cleaning and repair of village tanks and levelling of fields belonging to poor farmers. Not even a single household got 100 days work or unemployment allowance. Those who get work under this scheme, get it for only about 20 days. The wages of many workers have not been paid for many months. Some workers didn't get even their job cards as these remained with the village head or petty officials who made false entries and cornered funds.
KEEPING ALIVE HOPE: It is imperative that people begin to see some signs of hope. As it will take some time to frame new plans and schemes, a beginning should be made by better utilisation of existing schemes, particularly the rural employment guarantee scheme. This scheme should be used to restore traditional water sources, clean and repair tanks and take up soil and water conservation work. Immediate steps need to be taken to provide drinking water to people and animals.
Farmers need more support for low-cost technologies based on local resources and more stable, wider range of livelihoods – including cottage industries. Some relief from the existing high debts will be necessary sooner or later, but it is equally important to ensure that indebtedness does not reoccur. Implementation of various government schemes has to improve significantly, and particular attention should be immediately given to ensuring that Antodya/BPL cards, oldage and widow pensions soon reach the truly needy people. This was the first initiative under the Hunger Monitor Project of Action Aid. It is hoped that this timely study will help to prioritise the agro-ecological and food security crisis in Bundelkhand before the new government. Timely, well-documented warnings about hunger and overall food insecurity can play an important role in pressuring and motivating the authorities to initiate relief measures. The Hunger Monitor Project hopes to take up more such efforts in other parts of the country. It will also highlight the constructive effort done by various organisations to check the deteriorating situation and provide reliefto people.
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