VILLAGERS WORKING ON EARTH DAM TO STORE WATER, SIGNS OF CROP FAILURE AT VILLAGE, PARCHED FIELD, MRS. GANDHI ARRIVES AT BHUBANESHWAR TO INSPECT FAMINE AREA, OFFICIAL WELCOME.




Initials RGM/V/BHH/OS


EDITORS: WE REFER YOU TO OUR PROD. NO.4589/66 - "HUNDREDS ALLEGED TO BE DYING OF STARVATION IN DROUGHT-HIT STATE" - SERVICED 12 MAY 1966.

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: MRS. INDIRA GANDHI, INDIA'S PRIME MINISTER, HAS CONTINUED HER TOUR OF THE FAMINE-STRICKEN STATE OF ORISSA, WHERE THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY RAIN FOR MORE THAN A YEAR. MRS. GANDHI ANNOUNCED TODAY (SATURDAY) THAT THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT INTENDED INCREASING ITS AID TO THE AREA.

IN THE INDIAN PARLIAMENT, OPPOSITION MEMBERS HAVE CLAIMED THAT MORE THAN 500 PEOPLE HAVE DIED SO FAR IN THE FAMINE IN ORISSA. THEY SAID ALSO THAT ABOUT 500,000 HAVE EVACUATED THEIR HOMES, LEAVING WHOLE VILLAGES EMPTY, IN THEIR SEARCH FOR FOOD. AND A FORMER CHIEF MINISTER OF ORISSA HAS LIKENED CONDITIONS THERE TO THE FAMINE THAT STRUCK BENGAL IN 1943 WHEN MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE REPORTED TO HAVE DIED.

MRS. GANDHI SAID AT A PUBLIC MEETING TODAY THAT GRAIN FROM CENTRAL RESERVES WOULD BE RUSHED TO THE AREA TO RELIEVE THE FOOD SHORTAGE. A SECTION OF THE AUDIENCE INTERRUPTED HER, SHOUTING DEMANDS FOR MORE FOOD AND THE RESIGNATION OF THE FOOD MINISTER, MR. C. SUBRMANIAM.

YESTERDAY (FRIDAY), THOUSANDS OF CHEERING PEOPLE LINED THE ROUTE WHEN MRS. GANDHI ARRIVED IN THE STATE CAPITAL, BHUBANESWAR.

THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT IS TO INCREASE ITS AID UP TO 90 MILLION RUPEES (ABOUT 6,700,000 STERLING). EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE INDIAN PARLIAMENT WAS TOLD THAT FOOD WAS BEING SENT FOR SALE IN THE STRICKEN AREA AND MORE FREE FOOD WAS TO BE GIVEN TO THE AGED, SICK, DISABLED AND CHILDREN. FARMERS ARE TO BE GIVEN HELP FOR THE PLANTING OF NEW CROPS.