Search the Internet            Tips

Famine may cause law and
order problem in Rajasthan

Kamla Bora in Jaipur

Famine looming large over Rajasthan for the third consecutive year may cause law and order problem in some districts in the state.

While the state police is stepping up vigilance in sensitive districts and the government is gearing up to launch relief operations, there is a nagging fear that extremist organisations may take advantage of the situation.

Director General of Police Shantanu Kumar at his new year press conference Thursday mentioned Banswara and Dungarpur as the two most sensitive districts.

He said Mama Bheel Gang, a tribal rebel group operating in the two districts, may incite villagers to take law in their own hands.

The state government, meanwhile, has begun the groundwork to provide food, water and fodder to over 400,000 humans and an equal number of cattle heads in 30,583 villages spread across 31 districts in the state.

The drought this year, experts say, will be one of the worst ever in the state's history.

Fodder depots are being set up in affected areas and employment schemes are being launched.

State ministers have been made in-charge of affected districts to monitor and review famine relief work and senior administrative service officers have been asked to visit affected districts at least thrice every fortnight.

The cash-strapped state government has submitted a memorandum to the Central government seeking Rs 23 billion in financial assistance.

A team deputed by the Union government has already visited the affected areas and submitted its reports to a group of ministers in Delhi.

Since the National Calamity Fund created to provide assistance to states by the Centre has been abolished, the Union government is now setting up a corpus through a parliamentary legislation for this purpose, Minister for Relief Work Gulab Singh Shaktawat said.

The state government, he said, is giving top priority to solving the drinking water problem.

A contingency plan has been prepared to rush drinking water in drought-hit areas, he said.

ALSO SEE
Spectre of famine looms again in Rajasthan

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report