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Prime Minister asks Indians to help combat drought |
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April 25, 2000 NEW DELHI, APR 24 (AP) - Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee asked Indians to make contributions to help more than 50 million people affected by a severe drought in the western states of Gujarat and Rajasthan, newspapers reported Monday.
In a nationally televised appeal Sunday, Vajpayee acknowledged that government funds to meet the demand for food, fodder and water were inadequate and urged people to contribute "no matter how small the amount," to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.
In Gujarat, the drought is reported to be the worst in a century. In Rajasthan, lack of rain has compounded the chronic drought-like situation in 26 of the 32 districts, The Hindu newspaper said. The seasonal monsoon rains that end the searing Indian summer are nearly three months away.
"In village after village, hunger stalks men, women and children," Vajpayee said. "More than 50 million people have been affected by the drought. They can only stare at the parched earth and hope that this year the monsoons will not elude them," Vajpayee said in the speech that was also broadcast on the radio.
The government has released money from the Prime Minister's fund, but "given the severity of the drought and the large number of people and cattle who need to be provided with food and fodder, these funds are inadequate," Vajpayee said.
Opposition parties geared up to slam the government in Parliament debate on the drought this week and they called for a "disaster management policy" and an all-party meeting so that leaders who are not in the legislature can be consulted on the crisis.
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