Survey by Swaraj Abhiyan highlights plight of drought-hit

Several villages in Bundelkhand region spread over Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are facing "acute shortage" of drinking water, cattle deaths along with "inaction" of the state machinery, a survey by Swaraj Abhiyan said.
Releasing the survey report, Swaraj Abhiyan co-founder Yogendra Yadav today said 40 per cent of the 43 surveyed villages in Madhya Pradesh were depending on "two or less" hand pumps for their water needs.
Among the 79 villages of Bundelkhand in Uttar Pradesh covered by the survey, the situation is a little better with 13 per cent villages having 2 or less number of working handpumps, he said.

The survey was conducted in 122 villages in Bundelkhand region of both the states.
"The water crisis appears to have reached alarming proportions in four districts-Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Panna and Datia-of Bundelkhand lying in MP," Yadav said.
Nearly 75 per cent of the surveyed villages in Bundelkhand in both UP and MP reported complete state "inaction" regarding drinking water crisis in last three months.

"Inaction of both MP and UP governments is reflected in terms of providing employment under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in the drought facing Bundelkhand villages.
"An abysmally low 5 per cent villages in MP reported ongoing employment work for job holders under MNREGS while the percentage was 29 in case of villages in UP," Yadav said.

The former AAP leader attributed cattle deaths to lack of fodder and water in the surveyed villages.
Drought has also posed a threat of hunger and malnutrition in the affected villages in Bundelkhand, mostly in UP, Yadav said.
"About 59 per cent villages in UP reported having more than 10 families who do not manage 2 square meals a day. The corresponding number in MP was 35 per cent. Reports of people resorting to begging for food or using poor quality foodgrain substitutes like 'fikar'(wild grass seed), have also been received," Yadav said.
"For the cattle, famine appears to have arrived. As many as 41 per cent UP Bundelkhand villages and 21 per cent MP Bundelkhand villages reported more than 10 cattle deaths due to starvation or poisoning in the last one month," he said.

The villages surveyed were part of drought impact assessment surveys by Swaraj Abhiyan in November-December, 2015. The latest data were obtained through phone last week, Yadav said.
The leader added that Swaraj Abhiyan will launch 'Jal Hal' footmarch from drought-hit Latur in Marathwara to Mahoba in Bundelkhand on May 21-31.
Rajendra Singh and Medha Patkar among others will be present at the event, he said.
Besides, a programme of 'Drought Duty' will be launched tomorrow to rope in students from colleges and universities to work in drought-hit villages.