DISASTER MANAGEMENT

ASSIGNMENT

TOPIC: 1970 DROUGHT IN INDIA

BY
R.SRIRAM (100516735035)
R.LAVANYA(100516735036)
 1970 DROUGHT IN INDIA
Drought: It is a natural disaster of below average precipitation in a given
region, resulting in prolonged shortage in the water supply whether
atmospheric, surface water or ground water. A drought can last for months or
years.
Classification of Droughts:
1) Meteorological drought (rainfall deficiency)
2) Hydrological drought (fall in ground water and waterflow in rivers)
3) Agricultural drought (crop failure)

Trigger of hazard/Origin:

Period and location:

Drought in India has resulted in tens of millions of deaths over the course of
the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. Indian agriculture is heavily dependent on
the climate of India: a favorable southwest summer monsoon is critical in
securing water for irrigating Indian crops. In some parts of India, the failure of
the monsoons result in water shortages, resulting in below-average crop
yields.[1] This is particularly true of major drought-prone regions such as
southern and eastern Maharashtra, northern Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh,
Odisha, Gujarat, Telangana and Rajasthan.
1970-73 years were years of droughts over Maharashtra. These years created
extremely difficult situation to government and people of Maharashtra. 1971
and particularly 1972were the years of deficient rainfall over Maharashtra. On
the background of very successful agricultural production during season of 1969
agricultural production of Maharashtra decreased during 1970 due to excessive
rainfall and infection of pests on rabi crops. Maharashtra was never self
sufficient in food grain production. “The Maharashtra drought between 1970
and 1973 was a period of unprecedented agony as also unparalleled ecstasy. The
agony lay in fact that millions of people in the rural areas suffered privation and
misery as never before.”1 Drought and socio-economic status developed then
forced almost all people including some families of good economic background
to work on scarcity works.

Fundamental determinants:
 Area and production departure:

Extent of loss:
  Kharif 1970:
In the month of June the monsoon set in ten days earlier than usual. It was
active and widespread and covered the entire state by the first week of June.
This facilitated large scale sowing of paddy and nagli crops during the first
week in the western paddy growing areas of the state. Sowing of cotton,
groundnut and other kharif crops carried out by the third week of June in the other
areas of the state. However, inadequate rain was reported from eastern parts of
Deccan, parts of Aurngabad and Osmanabd districts of Marthwada
region where sowing operations did not underwent due to deficient rains up to
August.The agricultural season of 1970-71 was quite unsatisfactory. The
distribution of rainfall was uneven. In parts of Ahmednagar, Poona, Sholapur,
Satara and Sangli districts sowing could not done due to inadequacy of rains
during the month of August. In Marthwada,parts of Vidharabha and Khandesh
tract heavy and continuous rains received in Augustand September damaged the
standing crops particularly cotton and pulses to varying extent. The crops on
river banks in Marhtwada and Vidarbha were damaged due to floods. On
account of severe incidence of midgfly, local jowar in Vidharha and Marthwada
was severely affected. Heavy rains in early October caused lodging of paddy
crop in Kolaba district and affected hybrid-jowar in Kolhapur district.
 Rabi 1970:
Continues dry weather prevailed since the middle of October and affected the
growth of rabi crops, particularly in the light and medium soils in the Deccan
and Marathwada districts and in Chandrapur district of Vidharabha. The
prospects further deepened by the cold spell since the month of November
1970. The water table in the wells had reduced considerably, affecting
availability of water for irrigation to rabi crops. A hailstorm in early March
damaged the matured crop of wheat in eastern parts of Vidharabha. In view
of the above adverse seasonal conditions the total rabi food grain production
was considerably affected. However, in spite of the adverse seasonal conditions
experienced this year, the production level reported least affected.
Rainfall and Performance during 1970-73
Rainfall and Performance during 1970-73:
Following bar diagram depicts exact picture of sub divisional rainfall
performance during
1970-73 drought of Maharashtra. The year 1969-70 was satisfactory as far as
rainfall performance concerned. It is evidenced that rainfall fail short during
1970-71 over Madhya Maharashtra and it fail by 27% to 1968-69 rainfall. All
bar diagram and charts of nine climatic zones are prepared and annexure of it
attached in the appendix. It gives clear idea of the rainfall performance of the
drought years of Maharashtra. This poor performance of rainfall had adverse
effect on the agricultural performance of Maharashtra. It can be seen through
subsequent charts. It will be further cleared to judge the rainfall performance
over Maharashtra during 1970-73 periods over Maharashtra through judging
rainfall performance over all agro climatic zones of Maharashtra. (See
Appendix-G Charts No.AC1to AC18.) This suggests that over, all agro-climatic
zones the rainfall was far below to normal during 1972. The analysis of rainfall
over different places of same agro-climatic zone shows similar rainfall pattern.
It reveals the fact that the classification of agro-climatic zones on rainfall and
soil criterion is correct. It is also corroborated through rainfall data processed
for different places of same agro-climatic zones and of different agro-climatic
zones.
Trends of area under crop and total food grain productions:
District-wise Rainfall and Food-grain production
The agricultural production declined from 1970-71 onwards. During 1970-71
the monsoon
performance was satisfactory but due to unfavorable weather, untimely rain and
pest
affected food grain production. Rainfall during 1970 was satisfactory. However,
in the year 1970 charts shows over all the places of these regions received no
rainfall during October 1970 and it resulted into drought condition for rabi crops
same can be corroborated by shortfall in sorghum production during this year.

 Nature of scarcity during 1970-73:

 Nature of drought a bench mark analysis:

Millions of people of Maharashtra experienced two consequent severe droughts
during 1971 to 1972.The drought of 1970-73 affected almost 80% of the
villages in the state and about 15 to 30 million people out of a population of 50
million. During the decade of 1961-71 agricultural growth in the state was 0.07
per cent per annum, while the population grew at the rate of 2.7%.
Consequently the condition of agricultural laborers deteriorated. Rural areas
experienced an acute shortage of food grains by hoarding and subsequent
increase in food prices. 27 The attendance of labor force itself revealed the
nature and degree of severity of this drought. Not only labor force but also rural
elite and many non-governmental agencies saw very seriously towards this
disaster. Attempts made by different agencies, colleges, academician’s
universities to conduct the survey of rural Maharashtra of that time. 28 All the
surveys followed some common criterion to assess the ground reality of the
period of contemporary rural Maharashtra. These surveys devised methods
based on statistical and economic principals; while conducting surveys as well
as making conclusions. Assessment of agricultural situation, general economic
condition, consumer patterns and relief measures assessed through surveys.
Worsening food grain condition, scarcity works and wages enquired through all
these surveys. As these surveys were carried over the 10 severely affected
districts of Maharashtra the pictures it revealed more or less similar to each
other.

 An Assessment of Agriculture:
Survey carried by Ghokhale institute of politics and Economic Pune covered
vital drought affected talukas of western Maharashtra and Marthwada regions.
This survey covered 73 villagesThere was some reduction in the sugar recovery
percentage because of the shortage in the irrigation water supply. It was
reported that the loss sustained by irrigated agriculture was to the extent of
about 10%. The annual income of the sugarcane cultivators estimated to be
around as high as Rs. 20000 or more per
family.A scarcity survey report of Sinnar Taluka reveals the annewari of years
1970-71 and 1971-72 and 1972-73 were below 4 anna valuation for 4,71 and
102 villages respectively Rural population of Maharashtra experienced distress
due to drought at its peak. However, Thane, Ratnagiri districts suffered losses in
agricultural production by 15%to 25% only. Yeotmal and Amravati district also
incurred moderate losses in food grain production. These districts also received
satisfactory rainfall. All surveys suggests that even in some pockets of chronic
scarcity area villages that had protected irrigation suffered very marginal loss in
agricultural production especially of sugarcane. The loss inproduction and in
cropped area reduction was marginal .

Income Sources and Its Depletion an Analysis of Surveys:

 Scarcity Relief works as source of income:

Eminent academic institutes carried contemporary surveys on 1970-73 drought
of Maharashtra. The intentions of these institutes were to know precise socio-
economic effects of droughts on rural life. Survey carried by S.N.Kulkarni was
extensive covering minute details and with utmost care of stratified samples.
Similar criterion and methods were employed in other surveys too All measure
surveys reveal that scarcity relief works was major source of employment to
people. Description of the same found in the study carried by Gokhle institute of
various regions. 80% of the annual income of the villagers of Sirur taluka came
from the scarcity works. “The contribution that scarcity relief works made
towards the total income varied considerably between districts. It formed about
50% of the total income in Beed district and about 45% in Solapur district
around30% in Osmanabad, Sangli and Aurngabad districts, about 20% in
Ahmednagar districtand 15% in Pune and Nashik districts. Despite the sizable
magnitude of the earnings on the relief works, the total income in the drought
year was below the normal income by nearly 40% in districts like Beed
Aurngabad and Osmanabad because of the severe loss suffered in the
agricultural production. For the state as a whole the income level in the drought
year was below the normal income level by 28%.”
 Income pattern over villages having protected irrigation:
Income of the villages and farmers having protected irrigation facility even
during such a hard hit drought and even in hardcore chronic scarcity area had
very marginally affected. Sample survey revealed the above fact and it suggests
drought and scarcity get averted through protected irrigation. Following are
some evidences to prove the argument. “The report observe that the overall
reduction in sugarcane production was only 25%. Production by small
landholders has not declined to the same extent as they had not increased their
area under the crop.”

 Debts:
During famines or chronic scarcity period, the households might resort to
excessive borrowing mainly to meet their current consumption needs. Loans
taken in the past and dues for repayments during scarcity years are to be
renewed because of the inability of the affected repay. This increased total debts
of the borrowing households. The distress during the affected years can
therefore be judged by comparing the levels and purposes of borrowing during
affected years with that of the previous years. The relevant information about
borrowing is given. Over the period of three years from 1970-71, 1971-72 and
1972-73 percentage of borrowing households to the total 20.41% to 2.79% and
27.98% respectively.

 The food centric analysis:

During the decade of 1961-71, the agricultural growth in Maharashtra was
0.07% per annum, while the population grew at the rate of 2.7%. Consequently,
the condition of the agricultural laborers deteriorated. Rural areas experienced
an acute shortage of food grains, drinking water and fodder, a situation that
exacerbated by hoarding and the subsequent increase in food prices.
Maharashtra is cereal deficit state in the best of years and relies on inter-state
trade with rest of India. Subramanin claimed that 12 kg cereal consumption is
modest estimate for per person per month by applying reasonable methods. He
estimated 78 lakh tones was the cereal requirement of state for a year. He
further calculated food grain availability and deficit in each of drought year.
According to his calculations the deficit were 30.55, 34.84 and 51.43 lakhs
tones for the years 1970-71, 1971-72 and 1972-73 respectively
Elizbeth Oughten studied the 1970-73 drought of Maharashtra with respect to
failure of entitlement, public distribution system demand and supply side
attributes. To her mind and as matter of fact there was no issue of failure of
grain supply. The exact food centric assessment of Maharashtra drought 1970-
73 can be summarized in best Manner in the words of Dreze as follows “The
crisis was of extreme severity, famine was un- controversially averted. Sudden
emergence of a frightening gap between food production and food requirements
failed to develop into famine. This gap was, in the first instance, considerably
narrowed by the combined operation of the public distribution system and
private trade movements the latter stimulated by the generation of purchasing
power in the affected areas. Equally the remaining shortfall was very evenly
shared between different socio-economic groups under the influence of
progressive income support measurers.”113 He further pinpointed some
attributes of the drought as follows. “Food consumption in Maharashtra during
the drought was substantially lower than in normal years, but that starvation
averted because the food deficit rather well distributed among different socio-
economic groups. There are also some evidences to the effect that
nutritional damage during the Maharashtra crisis was not very great

 Nutrition, Health and Nourishment:

The prevalence of nutritional deficiency signs in the sample of population
examined are given in table No.AT-56 appended in Appendix-A. (see also table
No. AT-55 to AT-57 Appendix-A ) The results showed that about 30% of
children below the age of five years had one or more signs of nutritional
deficiency. Protein-Calorie mal-nutrition (PCM) was widespread, with
prevalence rate of four percent of severe forms like kwashiorkor and
marsmus. On the basis of weight deficit for age, nearly 60% of children had
moderate to severe degree of malnutrition (Grade 2 and Grade 3 mostly). Adults
were relatively free from the more serious forms of malnutrition and no case of
nutritional odema was encountered. Signs of vitamin A deficiency were found
in a large number of children and adults. While bitot’s spot were present in
about five percent of the subjects (below 15 years), a high proportion had
cunmuctival xerosis. Sign of vitamin B-complex deficiency like angular
stomatitis and glossitis were present in about 25% of subject. Anemia as judged
by clinical pallor and the associated presence of koilonychias was widely
prevalent. The incidence of the various deficiency signs is somewhat similar to
that frequently seen among the poorest sections of rural population in many
other parts of the country. 114 This implies that the early sub-state of
malnutrition is observed in some sections of population.

 Macro level economic impact of 1970-73 drought of Maharashtra:

Nature and impact these two terms appear synonymous to each other while
studying the
1970-73 drought. It is very difficult to demarcate boundaries between these two
terms. Provision on relief works and actual expenditure on it itself reveals the
nature and its
impact on economy.

Year-wise expenditure on scarcity relief works and total expenditure allotted

for development in Crorer Rs

The bar diagram depicts the increasing expenses on relief works. From 1971-
72to 1972-73 the actual expenses incurred on it seems slightly less. In the year
1973-74 the expenses is slightly more. The proportion of allotment of budget
for scarcity works seems went on increase, depicting the mounting severity of
scarcity. Total allocations on scarcity relief works from total outlay were
20.16%, 21.30%, 40.83 and 58.04% for the years 1970- 71,1971-72, 1972-73
and 1973-74 respectively. It shows that government efforts were never short and
as severity went on increasing government expenses on relief works also went
on increasing. During last two financial years of scarcity such a huge expenses
from state exchequer certainly created financial constraints on state government.
It implies shortage of finances to other major development programs of state.

 Environmental Impact of 1970-73 Drought:

1970-73 drought will not only remembered for its bitter experiences but also for
serious and large scale attempts to erect and enhance soil and water conserving
surface structures on land (See table appended in appendix). Aftermath of this
drought also laid lot of policies and measures to make state further drought
proof. Stagnancy in area and productivity in food grain resulted in to low
production. This was due to some extent environmental degradation like over
grazing, deforestation and desertification. Harnessing water resources in the
form of construction of dams, major, minor irrigation
projects surface wells and percolation tanks are also important in efforts
towards drought proofing. The priority of productive works ascertained in rules
as well as in legislation while answering to the question. Stupendous work had
been performed during 1970-73 drought of Maharashtra in asset building
direction.

Measures taken:
 The Prime Minister, appreciated the calamitous dimensions of the creeping
disaster, set up a Cabinet Committee on Drought (CCD) under his
leadership, with the objective of ensuring timely and prompt measures for
mitigating the impact of drought. The CCD was serviced by the Department
of Agriculture and Co-operation (DAC).
 CCD formulated an Action Plan consisting of the following:
i. Preparation of water budgets
ii. Undertaking appropriate contingency measures and supply of adequate
power in the agricultural sector
iii. Effective steps to provide drinking water
iv. Strengthening of the Public Distribution System(PDS)
v. Public health measures and providing supplementary nutrition for the young
and needy children
vi. Measures to provide adequate fodder and nutrients for the health and
preservation of cattle
vii. Employment generation
viii. Drought proofing
ix. Soil conservation and water harvesting works
x. Laying of roads where roads links did not exist
xi. Steps to prevent overdrawal of groundwater around under agglomerations
 A massive information campaign was mounted by All India Radio(AIR),
Doordarshan(DD), Press Information Bureau(PIB), Directorate of Audio-
Visual Publicity(DAVP) and Directorate of Field Publicity(DFP), of the
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting(MIB) in the different parts of
country to create public awareness about the drought and various relief
measures undertaken by GOI.
 SUMMARY

 The drought of 1970, caused by the failure of the south-west monsoon

over large parts of India. It was one of the worst droughts in 20th century.

 The drought of 1970 followed two or in some areas even three

consecutive low rainfall monsoon periods.

 The deficiency in rainfall was significant over 9 meteorological sub-

divisions out of which 3 were in high rainfall areas (Assam and
Meghalaya, Konkan and Goa, and Arunachal Pradesh).

 Nearly 3000 lakh people were affected.

 Around 600 lakh ha cropped area was affected.

 Around 1700 lakh cattle population was affected.

 Milk production has fallen sharply.

 The Prime Minister, appreciated the calamitous dimensions of the

creeping disaster, set up a Cabinet Committee on Drought (CCD) under
his leadership, with the objective of ensuring timely and prompt measures
for mitigating the impact of drought.

MY VIEW ON DISASTER
India is facing one of its most serious droughts in recent memory. 1970 was the
most severe drought in 1970. It was caused due to failure of south-west
monsoon failure. It affected several people and also the mortality rate of our
country. This type of drought may also occur in future too. We need to get
prepared before only. We need to plant trees and actively participate in the
programs conducted by the Government of India.

References

 www.droughtmanagement.info
 www.indiatoday.com