TREES STRIPPED OF VEGETATION; MEN SEARCHING FOR FOOD; PEOPLE SUFFERING FORM MALNUTRITION; GRAIN HANDOUT.




Initials AA/VS/CR/SS



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Background: WHILE MOST OF INDIA IS SUFFERING FORM A CRISIS OF PLENTY, FAMINE HAS ONCE AGAIN STRUCK ORISSA WITH 11 OF THE 13 DISTRICTS OF THE STATES SEVERELY HIT. RECORD CROPS ARE REPORTED IN MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, BUT INADEQUATE FACILITIES TO GATHER, STORE, AND MOVE THE WHEAT HARVEST BEFORE IT'S STRUCK BY MONSOON RAINS MEAN A CRISIS OF PENALTY.

ORISSA IS THE EXCEPTION. THREE SUCCESSIVE YEARS OF DROUGHT HAVE HIT MORE THAN SEVEN AND A HALF MILLION PEOPLE. DURING THE YEARS OF ACUTE SCARCITY LAWS WERE PASSED RESTRICTING THE SALE AND MOVEMENT OF WHEAT TO PREVENT BLACK MARKETING. NOW LAWS ON INDIVIDUAL HOLDINGS OF GRAIN AND MOVEMENT HAVE BEEN REMOVED, BUT THE TRANSPORT AND STORAGE PROBLEM IS SO ACUTE THAT IT MAY BE MANY MONTHS BEFORE THE WHEAT CAN BE DISTRIBUTED ADEQUATELY.

SO SEVERE IS THE DROUGHT IN ORISSA THAT EVEN DRINKING WATER IS SCARCE -- THERE IS NONE FOR IRRIGATION. ONE BADLY AFFECTED VILLAGE IS DASALLA WHERE DROUGHT HAS STRUCK LIKE A DISEASE, DRYING UP THE LAND OF THE PEOPLE ALIKE.

RELIEF IN THE FORM OF A GRAIN RATION HAND-OUT IS TRICKLING INTO THE STATE AND THE PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO SUBSIST. NO DEATH IN THE AREA HAS BEEN DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTED TO STARVATION, BUT MALNUTRITION IS EVIDENT IN NUMEROUS VILLAGES.