When millions were hoping that the dry spell would stop, it did not - 11 states in India are confirmed to have been affected by the drought or drought-like situation and World Vision India is gearing up to rise to the challenge of this dry season.
If the dry heat continues, 50 million people in 11 states including a number of areas where World Vision works. World Vision India National Director, Jayakumar Christian says, "World Vision India is assessing the situation and will be preparing a contingency plan as the real impact will be known by the end of the season".
World Vision India is working in tandem with the government and other aid agencies to respond timely and appropriately.
Jayakumar went on to say: "This year's monsoon is playing hide and seek in India. Some states experienced floods while others faced severe drought. A total of 11 states have so far reported drought conditions of varying magnitude."
Two states (Manipur and Himachal Pradesh) have been declared completely drought-hit, while most parts of few other states (Jharkhand, Assam, Uttar Pradesh) have been declared drought-hit. Some more states (Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and parts of Orissa) are assessing the situation and may soon be declared as affected.
The Meteorological Department reports that 'rainfall deficit' in these states ranges from 30 to 76 percent, a historical record so far, especially in eastern and north-eastern states known to be some of the wettest places on earth.
As the mercury shows no sign of coming down, millions of Indians are praying for rain. Rain has arrived in some parts while others still look for the heavens to open.
The low key national and international media attention combined with the unpredictability of the weather has made decision makers tongue-tied about how to respond to this slow-onset, undeclared disaster.
The monsoon is crucial for summer-sown kharif crops. Most marginal farmers rely solely on monsoon showers and are hugely impacted by weak monsoon. The month of July saw 19% deficit in rains compared to 7% deficit predicted by the Indian Meteorological Department around the last week of June.
An assessment done by Morgan Stanley showed that 48.8% of cropped area had been hit by deficient monsoon. The Assessment stated, "With the share of agriculture around 15% of GDP, the impact on growth will be restricted to 0.5%, if agriculture declines sharply, but the impact of a deficit monsoon on inflation and consequently that on the poor - socially, psychologically and politically - will be substantial."
For further information or expert interviews, please contact Joy Christina, Media Relations Manager on +9198407-98734
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
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