Combating drought
Oxfam (India), a
relief and development organisation,
has launched a
massive relief and
sustainable development programme in
the drought-hit areas of Orissa.
The Rs 1.5 crore
programme will be
implemented in
the worst-affected
villages of
Bolangir, Kalahandi
and Nuapara
districts, with the
help of local NGOs
and community-based
organisa-
tions. It focuses on
strengthening
the productive
capacity of communities by providing
them agricultural
inputs. The other
components of
the Oxfam initiative
will include
enhancing the state
government's
cash-for-work
programme and
improving water
availability through
the creation of
smaller tanks within
large tanks which
collect maximum
water before evaporation.
According to Oxfam,
consistent
neglect of
traditional
irrigation systems has led to the
severe spell of
drought in the state.
Besides scarce
rainfall, economic
deprivation and
extreme exploitation
of the people
were also responsible
for their suffering and largescale
migration.
Surprisingly, in most
of the drought-
hit areas, water was
available between
8-10 feet, says
Oxfam. A survey conducted by two of its
partner NGOs,
Anchalik Jana Sewa
Anushthan and
jagruta Shramik
Sangathan, has
revealed that only
one in 92 children
surveyed was found to
be well nourished. The survey
covered four villages of Bongomunda
block of
Bolangir.
Seventy-four children
Were found to be severely
undernourished,
with 23 of them
suffering from third
degree malnutrition.
jagdish Pradhan of
Sahvagi Vikas Abhian, an
Oxfam partner
organisation working
in some of the
worst affected
villages, says that if
traditional
irrigation systems
consisting of small
water harvesting
structures are
improved, much of the
suffering of people
can be reduced.
Although rainfall
this year in western Orissa was below
average, the
inability of people
to conserve rain
water and harness the
ground water
had worsened the crisis.
12jav.net12jav.net
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