Drought Situation in Orissa

Summary

This one-page resolution, adopted by the Swatantra Party General Council on May 28, 1966, addresses the acute drought and famine conditions in Orissa. It reports widespread starvation, emaciation, hospitalisation needs, crop failure, and drinking-water shortages, attributing the crisis not only to inadequate rains but also to nineteen years of governmental neglect, ill-conceived spending, favouritism, corruption, and incomplete irrigation and water-supply projects.

The resolution condemns the Orissa Government’s failure to anticipate and respond promptly to the crisis, while also assigning responsibility to the Central Government because the worst-affected communities include Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, and other Backward Classes for whom the Centre has special constitutional responsibilities. It calls for intensified relief, support enabling farmers to cultivate during the Kharif season, and a Commission of Inquiry into the famine, relief failures, starvation deaths, and preventive measures needed to avoid a recurrence.

Key points

• The resolution records acute drought, starvation, emaciation, and deaths in Orissa.
• It links the crisis to both deficient rainfall and long-term governmental neglect.
• It criticises ill-conceived plans, wasteful expenditure, favouritism, corruption, and incomplete irrigation and drinking-water projects.
• It condemns the Orissa Government for failing to heed warnings and initiate timely relief.
• It argues that the Central Government shares responsibility, particularly because Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, and other Backward Classes are among the worst affected.
• It calls for energetic relief measures and assistance enabling agricultural cultivation in the Kharif season.
• It demands a Commission of Inquiry into the famine, relief failures, starvation deaths, and measures to prevent a recurrence.