FAMINE

A famine is severe scarcity of food for a long time. It may be caused by lack of rain, excessive rain, flood, pests like locusts, over-population or disruption of food supply due to some natural disaster like earthquake or man-made disasters like riots, disturbances or prolonged strike in essential services.

The most common cause of famine in an agricultural country like India is failure of rain called drought. There is the dry weather for two or three successive years without rain. There is acute scarcity of food and other agricultural products, milk and water.

Wells, tanks and rivers dry up. There is no greenery seen anywhere. Scarcity of food and water hit people very hard. Prices of food, agricultural products and all essential things soar Cattle and sheep perish for want of fodder and drinking water. People face starvation and find it difficult to get even enough drinking water.

Government and voluntary charitable agencies start relief work. The government starts fair price shops, provides water and even distributes food and essential commodities free, h starts public works like building of roads to provide employment to the unemployed so that they can get money to buy the essential commodities. Government exempts farmers from land revenue, to provide relief to them.

Voluntary agencies collect funds and distribute foodgrains, clothes and other essential commodities free to the famine-stricken people. They provide grass and fodder to the cattle. They even provide free meals to the needy.

Thus through the combined efforts of the government and charitable institutions people are saved from starvation. Cattle are saved from death.

Thus generosity of people and the timely aid from the government help people to survive this natural calamity. But this is not sufficient. Government must take steps to prevent the recurrence of famine by increasing irrigation facilities so that farmers no longer have to depend upon rain. Government must also prevent felling of trees, pollution, etc., to prevent the weather getting dry and to prevent the failure of rainfall. Then only will people be saved from the calamity of famine.

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