EPISODE 10 Radio Serial on Understanding and Managing Disasters 

1 Radio Serial on Understanding and Managing Disasters EPISODE 10
Script By:
Dr. E.R.SUBRAHMANYAM
M.Sc.,M.Phil.,Ph.D
COMBATING DROUGHTS
CHARACTERS
Somanna (55) Farmer
Haritha(50) Sarpanch
Vimala
(49) Wife
Narendra (45) Ag. Scientist
Kranti
(16) Daughter
Latha (35) IMD Officer
Surya (42) Tahsildar
Pavan (38) Mandal President
SCENE (I)
Narrator :
It was a Sunday evening in the first week of July 2015 in a village in Ananthapuram
district. The predominantly agriculture areas of the district are mired in distress due to severe drought.
Most of the agriculture families are in debts as farm incomes dwindled.
The village sarpanch, Haritha and a few farmers gathered at the Panchayat Office. It was
newstime and all were listening to All India Radio.( Sound of AIR news…)
‘The IMD forecasts less than normal precipitation over the next two months and advised the Agriculture
Ministry to keep ready a contingency plan’.
Somanna(Farmer): Haritha Madam, as our sarpanch you know last year there were no rains in our
district. I took bank loan and invested in cotton crop.A lot of money went into buyng fertilizer. I took
another loan for digging a well. The well was dug but there was no water. The crop withered due to lack
of rain and I could not repay the loan. You also heard the AIR news. This year also there will be no rains.
All my hopes are shattered.
Haritha: (Sarpanch): Sommanna bhai, it is not only you that landed in debts. Most of our fellow
ryots are facing the same problem. Look at our friends here. They are saying the same thing.
(Somanna goes to his thatched house)
2 Radio Serial on Understanding and Managing Disasters Vimala: Where did you go? We are waiting for you. It is already 9’o clock. There is not much to eat,
our children are hungry. I don’t know what to do tomorrow.
Somanna: Vimala, What can I do? Already we received hand loans from money lenders. Bank loan
is already there.
Vimala: Oh, God. It is very bad. It was never like this previously. We committed a mistake in not
saving money.
It is not like that Vimala. We invested our money on cotton crop. It is a commercial crop.
I thought we could get handsome returns. But Rain God was not kind enough and there were no rains.
We lost the entire crop.
Somanna:
Vimala: Don’t worry. This year it may be good. We may gain on the next crop.
Somanna: No hopes Vimala. I just heard radio news. They are saying no rains his year also.
Kranthi: Daddy….( hesitating to say something)
Somanna: Kranthi, what’s the matter, you want to say something.
Kranthi: Yes, daddy. Tomorrow I have to pay examination fees in our college.
Somanna:
I know Kranthi. I always encourage you for higher education. I myself neglected my
education when I was young and helped my father for cultivation of our small landholding. Anyhow, I
will try for another loan.
NEXT AFTER NOON
- Post… (Postman’s voice)
Vimala:
Coming, coming.
Postman:
Here is a letter for Somannaji.
Vimala:
OK. Give it. I will hand it over to my husband.
Somanna:( reading the letter)
Vimala. This is the last straw on the camel’s back. Bank sent
notice to clear the outstanding loan. They will not give fresh loan.
Vimala:
We are helpless. Only the Government must come to our rescue.
Somanna: Our Sarpanch told me the other day that the government is also very serious about drought
and a committee will visit our district which is the worst hit. They may visit our village and some other
villages in our mandal also.
3 Radio Serial on Understanding and Managing Disasters Vimala:
Let us hope for some help.
Somanna:
Otherwise. I have no alternative except to commit suicide.
Vimala:( in a choked voice ) Oh. God,! No such words please. Think about your family. We all
will become orphans if you take such an extreme step. Let us always hope for better days.
Somanna: You are always optimistic. Your words give me new hope.
( Scene change music )
Scene II
Panchayat Office;
Somanna and some other farmers gathered at the Rachha Banda in front of the
Panchayat office. All are discussing how the drought is causing distress in their families.
( Appropriate sounds ).
Sarpanch Haritha:
Brothers, we represented all our problems to the committee. The committee visited some other villages
also in our mandal . I learnt that they had submitted report to the government. There is cabinet meeting
today and an announcement may come. Let us wait for the news. Let us all listen AIR news.
NEWS:
Aiming to minimize the impact of deficit monsoon the centre has allocated funds to 20 states
and union territories this year under the Pradhan Mantri krishi Sinchayee Yojana(PMKSY)to tide over the
problems caused by drought.
Sarpanch Haritha: You all heard the news. Central government has realized the drought conditions
in several states. Yesterday, I read in newspapers that 219 districts in our country are frequently affected
by drought. According to IMD there are 12 States and regions where monsoon rainfall has been at least
20% below normal. Our mandal is already reeling under severe drought conditions due to deficit rainfall.
Somanna: What about our state government
Sarpanch: Our government also will respond suitably. I hope
the cabinet will take a decision.
Let us wait for the regional news.
Somanna: I am also confident that the state government will do something to help us to overcome the
problem.
(All are eagerly waiting to listen to regional news over AIR)
4 Radio Serial on Understanding and Managing Disasters Sarpanch: OK friends we heard the news. Our state government identified several mandals as
severely hit by drought. The government instructed the district collectors to take relief measures in all
affected mandals .
Somanna: What measures,
sarpanch Madam?
SARPANCH:
Govt. will send another team to interact with our farmers to know the loss due to
drought. Let us tell them the financial loss suffered by us. They will assess the overall impact.
( Scene change music )
Scene: III
Saturday10 am:
Farmers meeting in Mandal Parishad Office.
Farmers gathered in the meeting hall.
Narrator : Tahsildar Surya, Mandal President pavan, Agriculture officer Narendra and Meteorology
department Scientist Latha were seated on the dais. Haritha and some other sarpanches besides several
farmers from various villages of the revenue mandal were present.
Tahsildar: Welcome to all kisan friends. This year our mandal is one of the worst drought affected
mandals. You are facing several problems. Some farmers are reportedly committing suicides elsewhere. It
is hasty. Don’t take such extreme steps. There will be some problems in agriculture due to various
reasons. However these problems are not permanent. We should always look for better days ahead.
Government will help you.
A team of officials interacted with you recently. State Government announced a major decision. Your
agriculture loans are being waived. Don’t worry.
Farmers: claps (appropriate sounds)
Mandal President:
Most of the farmers in our mandal will be covered under the loan waiver. You
can take fresh loans from banks and raise alternative crops suggested by agriculture officials.
Surya: Friends, we have invited Madam, Latha of Meteorology department. We will have discussion
on droughts. We will learn more about this natural disaster.
Latha: Good morning friends. Your mandal is affected by severe drought last year and this year also.
Government is taking steps to create awareness among the people regarding various disasters. As your
mandal is reeling under drought conditions, you all should know about disasters. A detailed knowledge
about preparedness, response, recovery and prevention is essential to reduce loss.
5 Radio Serial on Understanding and Managing Disasters Surya: Agriculture officer Narendraji is also with us now. He will also tell you several things about
droughts. However we all will avoid too many scientific details. Some basic information is enough for
our farmers.
Latha: Iwill give you certain details. You should become more informed by this .You may have some
doubts. Don’t hesitate to raise your doubts. Let there be discussion. Then only it will be useful.
Mandal President, Pavan: OK madam. Our farmers incurred hug debts and are in desperation..
Our cattle are not safe. We need a word of assurance to tide over the present crisis.
Tahsildar: You are right, Presidentji. We have
arranged this meeting to boost the morale of our
farmers.
They should develop awareness on all aspects of drought. Let us start the discussion.
Hartha( Raising her hand)..sir…
Surya: Sarpanch
Haritha is asking a question.
Yes madam sarpanch, please ask your question
Sarpanch (Haritha): OK sir .First; please tell me, what is drought?
Surya: Latha madam will answer your question.
Latha: Good question madam sarpanch! Of course, there is no precise definition for drought. However
a drought is a period of below-average precipitation in a given region resulting in prolonged shortages in
its water supply whether atmospheric, surface or ground water. Droughts may last for months or years.
Moreover, it is not just the deficiency of rainfall but also the uneven distribution of rainfall across the
season, duration of rainfall deficiency and its impact on different regions of the country that characterize
drought conditions.
Mandal President: Madam, what are the causes for drought?
Latha: There are not one but several reasons. Precipitation deficiency, dry season, El Nino, Erosion
&human activities and climate change.
If factors that cause precipitation are absent there will be no rain or snow over a period of time in any
region. This results in drought. Within the tropics distinct wet and dry seasons emerge due to movement
of the inter-tropical convergence zone or monsoon trough. The dry season greatly increases drought
occurrence.
Mandal President:
Madam, you said that El Nino is also responsible for drought. What is El Nino?
Latha: All our farmers should have basic knowledge about this environmental problem.
6 Radio Serial on Understanding and Managing Disasters Under normal conditions the waters of the Eastern Pacific off Ecuador are surprisingly cold as much as 10
degrees Celsius cooler than the waters of the Western Pacific. But once in every 5 to 10 years from
December to March, the waters of the Eastern Pacific warm up a little ( 28 degrees Celsius i.e 4 degrees
higher than normal) which disrupts the upswelling of the nutrients-rich cold water. This disrupts the
anchovy fish industry. This phenomenon is called El Nino. El Nino is a Spanish word meaning Christ
child since it starts in December. Sometimes El Nino coincides with another event called southern
oscillations. The two events El Nino and Southern Oscillations are called ENSO.
Somanna: What is meant by Southern Oscillations, madam?
Latha: It is an irregular but recurrent relationship between atmospheric pressure and sea surface
temperature over South-eastern Pacific and the Indian Oceans.
Haritha: OK .But how is El Nino responsible for droughts?
Narendra: It is a good question. I will tell you, madam sarpanch.
Normally trade winds blow along the equator from the South-east Pacific towards west pushing warm
water out to the sea. But when El Nino comes along, these trade winds become weak and change direction
from west to east i.e. warm pacific current starts to blow east. When it reaches the American coast , it kills
cold water fish. The warm water also warms the air, which lowers the atmospheric pressure and sparks
torrential storms along Chile’s coast reaching as far as Southern California.
Haritha: So it affects only the Amercan continents.
Narendra:
No.No.Madam. It is not correct. The weak low pressure system also changes rainfall
patterns in the South Pacific which in turn leads to extensive droughts and floods in other parts of the
world. Thus El Nino is not a localized phenomenon. It affects nearly half the globe. It lasts from
December to December. When El Nino comes our country experiences drought. This is what is happening
this year.
Mandal President, Pavan: Thank you Narendraji. Now I have some clarity. But how do human
activities cause drought?
Narendra: Human activities such as over farming, excessive irrigation and deforestation also trigger
droughts. The reason is these activities adversely impact the ability of land to capture and hold water. You
know, erosion is also responsible for drought.
In arid climate the main source of erosion is the wind. Suspended particles within the wind may impact on
solid objects causing erosion by abrasion. Wind erosion occurs due to little or no vegetation.
Latha: Friends, there is another reason for droughts i.e. climate change. Activities resulting in climate
change trigger drought with an impact on agriculture. Increased climate variability has made rainfall
patterns more inconsistent and unpredictable in the country increasing the recurrence of drought.
Haritha(Sarpanch): Latha madam, Please tell about the types of drought.
7 Radio Serial on Understanding and Managing Disasters Latha:
You have some knowledge about these things. I will answer your question.
Droughts have been classified into three categories in terms of impact. They are meteorological drought,
hydrological drought and agricultural drought. Meteorological drought is the deficiency of precipitation
from expected or normal levels over an extended period of time. It occurs when the seasonal rainfall
received over an area is less than 25% of its long-term average value. When the deficit exceeds 50% of
the normal, there will be severe drought.
Haritha: OK madam. Plz tell about the other types also.
Latha: Thanks for your interest. I will tell briefly.
Hydrological drought is a result of deficiencies in surface and subsurface water supplies which leads to a
lack of water for normal and specific needs. Such conditions arise, even in times of average or aboveaverage precipitation when increased usage of water diminishes the reservoirs. Agricultural drought
usually triggered by meteorological and hydrological droughts, occurs when soil moisture and rainfall are
inadequate during crop-growing season causing extreme crop stress and wilting.
Pavan:
Madam, droughts are not new to our country. Our district is one of the districts vulnerable to
droughts. Last year there were no rains. Our hopes are shattered this year also. Severe drought looms
large.We are very much distressed.
Latha: You are right, president bhai. There are several districts in our country which are drought-hit. I
will tell you briefly about the drought profile of India . All of you look at the pamphlet given to
you.There is a table. The table gives a list of droughts that caused huge loss. Some droughts turned into
famines causing massive human losses. In the latter half of the 19th century there were 25 famines across
India which killed 30-40 million people.
Pavan: Famine! It should be horrifying.
Latha: You are right, Pavan ji. I must tell you about the agony of the people due to the great Bengal
famine of 1774. It was estimated to have wiped out nearly one million of the population due to extreme
starvation. In 1943-44 there was another Bengal famine which affected 3-4 million people.
Haritha: I heard that the frequency of droughts varied over the decades previously. Is it correct madam?
Latha:Yes What you heard is right.. From 1899 to 1920 there were seven drought years. The incidence of
drought came down between 1941 and 1965 when the country witnessed just three drought years. Again
during 1965-87 ten were drought years and the increase of frequency was attributed to ENSO. However
the Green Revolution in the 1960s saved us. It made the country self sufficient in food production.
Haritha:
What is so special about the years 1987 and 2002 madam?
Latha: yes. These are among the worst drought years. They are both El Nino years. In 1987 the overall
rainfall deficiecy was 19%.It affected 60% of crop area and a population of 285 million. In 2002, the
overall rainfall deficiency for the country as a whole was 19%. Over 300 million people spread over 18
8 Radio Serial on Understanding and Managing Disasters states were affected .Around 150 million cattle were affected due to lack of fodder and water. Food grain
production registered a steep fall of 29 million tonnes.
Somanna ( Farmer); Madam, if there is early warning we will be prepared to face the disaster and
stop investing on agriculture.
Narendra:
Somanna ji, I am from agriculture department. I know your problems. As you said early
warning is necessary. The existing systems should work more effectively. You all must know that
government takes measures for drought preparedness and mitigation. We should have accurate, timely
and integrated information on drought conditions at the level of regions, states and districts. If droughts
are detected early we can put in place drought management plan which evokes both proactive (mitigation)
and reactive(emergency) response.
Somanna:
OK Narendraji. But who issues early warnings?
Narendra:
India Meteorological Department (IMD) is the designated agency for providing drought
early warning and forecasting. Madam Latha is from IMD. She will tell you.
Latha: OK .Narendraji. I will tell………IMD provides maps and data. IMD has a mechanism to
provide climatological information blended with seasonal climate forecasts before the start of the
cropping season. The department identifies meteorological droughts every year based on rainfall analysis.
During the past 125 years IMD has identified meteorological droughts (moderate or severe) over
meteorological subdivisions of the country as a whole. It has refined the models and techniques for
weather forecasts from time to time. The whole country is covered by aerial photography.
Narendra: IMD issues long range forecasts of seasonal total rainfall for the entire country which are
done before onset and at the beginning of the monsoon. It collects rainfall data using a network of 2800
rain gauge stations distributed across 36 meteorological subdivisions of the country. There are weather
stations in Hyderabad, Chennai, Madurai, Varanas etc. in our country.
Haritha : Madam, all our farmers listen to weather forecasts and news over All India Radio every day.
Latha:
Very good. You must know up-to-date information about weather. IMD provides this
information to AIR and newspapers for the benefit of all, particularly the farmers, fishermen and others.
District wise forecast is given for the next 48 hours. Daily forecast in different languages is given through
AIR stations in their evening programmes for farmers. A second bulletin is issued for broadcast in the
morning during rainy season.
Pavan: Madam, what is the nature of monsoon in India?
Latha:
It is a good question indeed. All our farmers must know how the monsoon behaves in our
country. India receives most of its rainfall (73%) from South-west or summer monsoon. It sets in during
the first week of June in the south-east corner of India and gradually proceeds towards the north-west
region covering the entire country by the end of July. Monsoon starts its withdrawal during the first week
of September from the west and north and gradually recedes from the entire country.
9 Radio Serial on Understanding and Managing Disasters Haritha: Madam, what is north-east monsoon?
Latha: Madam sarpanch, north-east monsoon is also called post-monsoon.
Coastal areas of peninsular
India and Tamil Nadu receive rains from October to December primarily due to cyclonic disturbances in
the Bay of Bengal. This is called north-east monsoon.
Haritha: Thank you, madam. I understand.
Pavan: Madam, as you said IMD is doing good service to farmers by issuing weather forecasts.
What
is the IMD forecast for this year 2015. There are no rains so far.
Latha: MD gives information in the maps and data.
The forecast in June stated that the rainfall over
the country as a whole for south-west monsoon season (June-Sept) was likely to be deficient at below
90% of the long period average. According to IMD release since April 2015 weak El Nino conditions are
established over equatorial Pacific Ocean. Atmospheric conditions like weakened trade winds, negative
southern oscillation index values etc associated with El Nino are also observed. The forecast also stated
that El Nino conditions are likely to strengthen further and reach to moderate strength during monsoon
season. The forecast for the country as a whole predicts
61% (deficient),24%( below
normal),13%(normal) and 2%(above normal).
Haritha: Any forecast about north-east monsoon, madam?
Latha: Oh, madam sarpanch! You have some hopes about NE monsoon. IMD predicted that the
conditions are becoming favorable for NE monsoon rainfall over the coast of southern Andhra Pradesh
along with the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.
Mandal President,Pavan: Friends, it is 1.30 PM now. We will have lunch break for 45 minutes.
Lunch is arranged for all in the dining hall. There is photo exhibition also on drought outside the dining
hall arranged by IMD. Please visit the stall before returning to meeting hall.
( sounds of plates at dining hall. Chatting on drought prevailing in the mandal)
( Scene change music)
SCENE IV
All assembled in the meeting hall for the post-lunch session.
Tahsildar, Surya:
I hope you all have seen the photos in the exhibition stall. Do you get any
information from the photos?
Somanna and other farmers: We never saw those photos. We understood how horrible the great
Bengal famine was. It was really heart rending. Other photos of people migrating in large numbers to
other places to escape from the clutches of drought are also there. Photos of parched agriculture lands,
dried up ponds, people suffering from starvation, carcasses of cattle etc depict the effects of drought.
10 Radio Serial on Understanding and Managing Disasters There are some maps and posters on climate. There is lot of information. We thank IMD for the
exhibition.
Latha: Thank you.
It’s all to bring about awareness on droughts and to prepare you to respond to such
disasters without fear. Your mandal is also reeling under drought. It is recurring almost every three or
four years .Government always stands by you.
Narendra: OK. Let us continue the discussion. Please ask your questions.
Haritha: Sure sir. I will ask a question. What are the key indices of drought?
Narendra:
The key indices are increased water demand, over exploitation of water and water
intensive cropping etc. Reduced infiltration, reduced ground water recharge, reduced inflows into
reservoirs/ponds/lakes, induced evaporation and transpiration loss also characterize drought. Our farmers
should understand the need for water conservation and harvesting.
Haritha: Sir, Our farmers should be sensitized on these aspects. Please tell us some details
Narendra:
Ok, Madam. All our farmers should know about water conservation and harvesting. Of
course such processes and structures for water harvesting have been in existence since antiquity but the
increasing frequency and severity of droughts and population growth have focused on the revival of these
practices and structures. Efforts have been made to collect water by building dams and reservoirs and
digging wells. Some countries have also tried to recycle and desalinate water.
Haritha:
I have a small pucca house with cement roof. I collect water from the rooftop whenever it
rains.
Narendra: Very good. This is water harvesting. The water so collected should be stored underground
for later use. It recharges and arrests ground water depletion. Besides rain water harvesting artificial
recharging is also important. It is necessary to stop the decline in ground water levels, arrest sea water
ingress and conserve surface water run-off during rainy season……..You know, Government made rain
water harvesting compulsory in all new structures in many cities.
Somanna: What about water conservation for agriculture, sir?
Narendra: Good question Somanna ji. Conservation of water in the agriculture sector is essential as
water is necessary for plants and cattle. A depleting water table and a rise in salinity due to overuse of
chemical fertilizers and pesticides have made matters serious. There are various methods for water
harvesting and recharging. Village tanks/ponds are the most commonly used method to collect and store
rain water. You know in Telangana village tanks are being revived under Mission Kakatiya programme.
Haritha: In our village there is a big tank. But now it is dry as there are no rains.
Latha: It generally happens during drought conditions.
You know, in several states such as
Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar similar structures are constructed to collect rain
11 Radio Serial on Understanding and Managing Disasters water. Rajasthan which is located in the Great Indian Desert receives hardly any rainfall, but the people
have adapted to the harsh conditions by collecting whatever rain falls. At the end of the monsoon season,
water from these structures is used for raising crops.
Narendra:
Well said, Latha madam. Our people should adopt techniques to reduce water
demand…….We can reduce water demand by improving the efficiency of water use and by reducing its
loss due to evaporation. Contour farming is adopted in hilly areas and in low land areas for paddy fields.
Desalination technologies such as distillation, electro dialyses and reverse osmosis are now available.
Hartha: Sir, I heard about rain guns. Are they useful for us?
Nagendra: Oh, yes. A rain gun is a micro-irrigation device. The use of rain gun saves water. These are
very useful when water availability is reduced and in droughts. Government provides rain guns to small
farmers with a subsidy. Rain guns can pump jets of water covering large areas. They provide wetting to
parched lands.
Somanna: How can we use it sir?
Narendra: Don’t worry Somannaji. If the government decides to provide rain guns ,farmers will be
trained in using them.
Mandal President: People should change their attitudes and habits to solve issues concerning water,
As each water drop counts, we must avoid wastage of water. We should use only the water we need. We
should not leave the tap running while brushing teeth or soaping the face.
Narendra: Very good advice president ji. There are many water conscious people in your villages. Try
to form groups to give publicity to water conservation and harvesting. I will give you some pamphlets
published by the agriculture department.
Pavan: OK, Sir. …… Droughts have caused misery to our farmers. They are unable to repay the loans.
We are hearing about farmers’ suicides elsewhere. Government should come to the rescue of our farmers
and provide immediate relief.
Narendra: Government will definitely help the farmers. As agriculture officer I must tell you about
the relief measures being taken up by the government. These include contingency crop planning, relief
employment, water resource management, food security, relief through tax waivers and concessions,
cattle camps and fodder supply, health & hygiene, financing relief expenditure, drought preparedness etc.
Somanna: Sir, please tell us about contingency crop planning.
Narendra: In your villages you are cultivating rice, cotton and sugarcane. These are water intensive
crops and cannot withstand drought conditions. The state government provides other cropping options
that can withstand drought conditions. These plans are prepared well in advance before the start of kharif
and rabi seasons.
12 Radio Serial on Understanding and Managing Disasters Haritha: It’s alright. But our farmers have lost their income and are in debts. Agriculture operations
have come to a grinding halt and our farm workers are thrown out of seasonal employment. They are
looking for alternative employment. Some are even migrating to other places in search of livelihood.
Narendra: Government has taken note of this problem. Instructions are given to revenue and other
officials to provide relief employment to the affected families. Our tahsildar will tell you about these
schemes.
Surya: Please understand. Government responds to any disaster to help the victims. …..As soon as
drought is declared in any district or region the state government starts relief employment programmes
and provides work for those who need employment within a radius of 5 km. Government of India
supports these programmes with financial assistance and release of food grains. The state government
takes up food for work programme. Wages on these relief employments are paid mostly in the form of
food grains to provide food security.
Pavan: We have schemes of Government of India also.
Surya: Yes. Pavanji. National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme is there. Most of you know about
it. Under the scheme 100 days of employment is provided to one person per family on demand…….We
will give instructions to all gram panchayats and mandal parishat to take up these works.
Pavan: Sure sir. We will prepare plan of action and submit to you for sanction of funds.
Drinking
water is a serious problem in our villages .There are some coastal villages also in our mandal. They are
facing acute water shortage. Women are trekking long distances to fetch water. No water for our cattle
also.
Tahsildar:
We all know the problem. Drinking water supply is the most critical task. Water is the
basic need for people and cattle. We have instructions from the district collector to take up measures for
water management. We have to dig bore wells and supply drinking water through tankers and bullock
carts. All village sarpanches can send their requirements.
Somanna: I have two buffalos in my cattle shed. Fodder is not available. How can I save them from
starvation?
Tahsildar: You need not worry. Government will supply fodder and feed to save the cattle.
Haritha: Sir, we are getting reports of
fevers and contaminated diseases in our village.
Tahsildar:
It generally happens. In a drought situation health issues are largely related to
contaminated water. People have less immunity due to poor levels of nutrition. Government will take
steps to prevent the spread of any water-borne epidemics and other infectious diseases. We will also
conduct free medical camps for all the affected people and cattle.
Surya: Some districts are chronically affected by drought in various states. The state governments may
take decision to provide a number of tax waivers and concessions when a drought is declared. Remission
13 Radio Serial on Understanding and Managing Disasters of land revenue, postponement of recovery of certain dues from farmers, providing certain concessions
for electricity and water charges and rescheduling of loans are some of the relief measures taken by the
government….. Today, the government declared some mandals in the state as “drought affected “in
kharf-2015.Thse mandals are located in various districts including your district.
Narendra:
We must understand that there has been a shift in the government policy from drought
management to drought mitigation.
Tahsildar:
You are right, Narendraji. A number of programmes have been launched by the
government to mitigate the impact of drought in the long run. These programmes include Drought Prone
Area Programme(DPAP), Desert Development Programme(DDP),National Watershed Development
Project for Rain fed Areas(NWDPRA), Integrated Water Development Project(IWDP) Integrated
Afforestation
and
Eco
Development
Project
Scheme(IAEPS)
etc.
Mandal President: We all leant many things about droughts which are causing devastation in our
villages. Latha madam explained the role of IMD in providing early warnings. Narendraji added a lot of
information. Our Tahsildar explained the relief measures being taken up by government. Now we all have
awareness about the causes, affects and ways to combat this disaster. We are prepared to overcome the
difficulty without fear. We are thankful to all our guests. Let us hope for good monsoon next time and
fortune will again smile on all of us.
Tahsildar: Let us conclude the meeting now. Please take biscuits and tea arranged in the verandah. A
pamphlet is being distributed by the agriculture department. There are some suggestions to the farmers
regarding water conservation and harvesting. Please read them. Bye.
---------------------/////------------------------------Questions:
1.
When did the first Bengal famine occur?
Ans: It occurred in the year 1770.
2: Which is the designated agency for issuing drought early warning and forecasting?
Ans: India Meteorological Department ( IMD ).
3.
What does NREGS stand for?
Ans: It stands for National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
(Script by Dr. E.R.Subrahmanyam, Principal, SKBR Post Graduate College, Amalapuram ,East
Godavari District, A.P)
14 Radio Serial on Understanding and Managing Disasters