[sacw] Villages near India's N-test site hit by famine, livestock deaths

[Harsh Kapoor]

FYI
(South Asians Against Nukes)
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Source: India Network News Digest - April. 20, 2000

Villages near India's N-test site hit by famine, livestock deaths
by Prakash Bhandari

POKHARAN, RAJASTHAN: The site of the country's second nuclear test in 1998
is hard hit by a famine. Villages in and around the actual place where the
nuclear explosion took place are having a tough time trying to overcome
Nature's fury.

The fields ploughed by the farmers last May in the hope that rains would
come are lying deserted and the farmers who depend on animal husbandry are
unable to prevent their cattle from starvation deaths due to lack of
fodder.

The actual nuclear tests in 1998 were undertaken at Khetolai village,
which is part of the Pokharan test range, one of world's largest. A visit
to Khetolai, barely four km from the test site, showed visible signs of
change. A new primary school and a small library for dalits have come
up. The villagers whose houses were damaged because of the impact of the
explosion received compensation totalling Rs 15 lakh. But others allege
the money was cornered by influential people.

"The influential persons managed to get compensation though their
properties were not damaged. They have renovated their houses now, with
expensive yellow Jaisalmer stone elevations giving them the look of
mansions," says Ganpat, a dalit of Khetolai.

The roads of the village, having a population of 2,000 people, are still
dusty and driving into the village, which is 22 km from Pokharan, is
difficult. The village economy depends on livestock and there are about
10,000 cattle, which produce 15 quintals of milk every day. But during the
summers, when the tourist traffic dwindles, these farmers produce ghee
from the milk and sell it at Jodhpur.

Kana Ram, a villager admits that there is no scarcity of water in
Khetolai. The groundwater reserve is not only enough for human
consumption, but also for the cattle. But fodder is hard to get and it is
difficult to feed the livestock. The deserted cattleheads die every day as
there is no fodder for them.

Kalyan, of the Sansi community, who disposes of the animal carcasses, is
tired of his job. He dumps the bodies of dead animals near the place where
the nuclear tests were undertaken in 1998. On an average, three to four
animals die every day and Kalyan is working overtime. He skins the animal
and drops the remains near the test site. As there aren't enough vultures,
a foul smell from the decomposed bodies pervades the air.

"Khetolai, despite the fact that it is close to the actual test site, has
not received any special attention. We are constantly under the threat of
various nuclear-related diseases. The government knows that there are six
animals to each human being in Khetolai. Yet, it has not opened a fodder
depot. Our animals are dying without fodder," Murli Devi, the village
sarpanch, told Indiatimes..

Fodder is expensive as it comes all the way from from Punjab. The opening
of a fodder depot will allow the villagers to buy it at subsidised rates.

A deep depression on the outskirts of the village has been earmarked for
the relief work. The district administration provides jobs to 80 persons
below the poverty line. Women wearing colourful dresses were seen braving
40 degrees temperature digging the soil. Though only 80 persons were
identified for the purpose of providing employment, about 100 of them,
mostly women, were seen at work. The remaining 20 were working in the hope
that they would also be employed. The wage fixed is Rs 60 per day for
specific task, but the first payment is yet to be received.

The men send their wives and daughters to work and sit at home. A villager
said that Rs 60 was a very small sum for the job and the men feel that the
job offered at the relief work site was fit only for women because of the
poor wage.

At another village, Bhadariya, Baba Harbans Singh Nirmal runs a cow
shelter. He is respected as Bhadariya Maharaj. Those who are unable to
feed their cattle, leave them at the trust run by him. But because of the
heavy rush of cattle, even his trust is finding it difficult to feed the
animals. With no fodder available in his 'gaushala', the cattle in search
of fodder migrate towards Khetolai. The villagers of Khetolai offer them
fodder, but it is not enough and the cattle die of starvation.

Farmers in other parts of the district (Jaisalmer), whose villages are
close to the Indira Gandhi canal, have no problem of fodder or potable
water. Nachna and Mohangarh have green fields and they are located near
the border. It is only in villages of Pokharan tehsil (sub-division) that
the situation is bad. For, the villagers in these areas depend on
livestock. Since water is not available, there is the paucity of fodder
and the consequent cattle deaths. In fact, the sheep breeders of this area
have started migrating to Haryana.

Loading a truck with sheep bound for Haryana, Fakira, a sheep breeder,
said: "Here, my sheep will die; in Haryana, the farmers will protect them
and not only provide fodder, but also food to the men coming along with
them."