India is experiencing one
of the most serious droughts for many years – a result of the worst
monsoon in the last decade, causing widespread flooding in one part
of the country and drought in the other. Over 14 states have already
been officially declared drought-stricken. Uttar Pradesh, Himachal
Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan,
Gujarat, Maharashtra, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and parts
of Tamil Nadu fall in the worst-hit category.
The situation is largely
due to shortage of rainfall in some areas during previous monsoons
and over exploitation of ground water through tube wells and bore
wells for agriculture and industrial use.
People are experiencing
severe disruption to their normal lifestyles and destruction of their
environment. Crops such as oilseeds, pulses, paddy and vegetables
that provide the basic food have been destroyed impacting severely
on the financial means of the population. The more vulnerable villages
have been hit the hardest as they depend solely on agriculture/cultivation
for survival.
ACT members in India are
planning assistance projects to meet the needs of the most affected
and vulnerable sections of the population.
Lutheran World Service
India (LWS-I) and the United Evangelical Lutheran Church of
India (UELCI) have informed the ACT CO that they are in the process
of preparing proposals. Church’s Auxiliary of Social Action (CASA)
has informed the ACT CO of a 10-month relief programme focussing primarily
on providing adequate and safe drinking water and food to the most
vulnerable. Seeds and manure will be provided to small and marginal
farmers to enable them to sow winter crops at the appropriate time.
In order to safeguard the livestock of the victims fodder will be
provided. The Food for Community Development programmes will have
a longer-term perspective increasing livelihood security and enabling
the community to incorporate preparedness and mitigation aspects to
counter future disasters. It is hoped that these measures will check
the large-scale migration that is becoming rampant. CASA and its partners
plan to take up relief work in the severely affected areas in the
6 states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh,
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
The CASA preliminary budget
is as follows (USD):
Crisis phase
Food and Non food relief: 1,936,750
Water harvesting structures: 187,500
Workshops drought prevention & mitigation: 35,417
Transport and storage: 241,458
Capital equipment: 83,333
Personnel, Administration: 189,875
Audit: 1,042
Total: 2,675,375
ACT expects to issue a
joint appeal for the three partners.
