FAMINE IN INDIA

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31277, 25 January 1967, Page 8

FAMINE IN INDIA

N.Z. Appeal Launched

Because the drought in India has caused widespread famine, the C.0.R.5.0. Freedom from Hunger Campaign executive will launch an immediate appeal in New Zealand to assist with famine relief, the executive chairman (Mr J. R. Gaynor) said yesterday. In one state with a population of 52 million it was estimated that 35 million were badly affected, said Mr Gaynor. The executive was told that C.0.R.5.0. had sent £20,000 in December to assist with relief work. Half of the money will assist with an emergency feeding programme through schools, and the other £lO,OOO will help with well-digging being carried out in an effort to combat the drought. Losing Odds

The National Secretary (the Rev. H. C. Dixon) said that “people are fighting a grim battle with famine against losing odds, and we must reduce the odds against then!. The whole of India is mobilised to combat the famine but they themselves have so little to give, and they need outside help desperately.” India will require 89 million tons of food grains this year, but the estimated harvest will yield only 78 million tons. Grain shipments from the United States, the U.S.S.R., Canada and Australia have helped stave off catastrophe, but the situation will be acute until the harvest in November.

In many areas the shortage of drinking water for both animals and humans is almost as serious as the shortage of food and is causing widespread migration. Millions in Peril

The chairman of the Bihar Relief Committee (Mr J. Narayan) said, recently, that he had been one of those who in recent years had been warning time and again against excessive dependence on foreign aid; yet he felt that when millions might soon have to face starvation, there could be no option for India hut to seek help wherever possible. “Any hesitation, on whatever ground, to ask for or to give help at this moment, would be tantamount to condemning innocent human beings to a painful death,-” said Mr Narayan.

The famine in Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh are considered likely to be worse than anything since the 1943 Bengal famine when one and a half million deaths occurred because relief measures were not introduced in time.