 Fight
the Drought
Akaal maa paydo laive Char he bansh Sasi, kutta, gidh,
sarpanch
(Only four species benefit from the drought--the leather
dealer, the dog, the vulture and the sarpanch)
That was a worn, cynical farmer in India's drought-ridden
heartland who reflected best the cynicism and weariness
with which India has come to face it latest calamity.
But we cannot afford to give in to cynicism and despair.
Too much is at stake, too many people are at despair's
door. A staggering 100 million people and sixty million
cattle have been affected in some way across 12 states.
Foodgrain production will fall this year, but most dangerously,
hope is disappearing for weakened, desperate families.
You can join CARE TODAY in bringing back some of the hope--and
rebuilding their future. CARE TODAY is a charitable, interactive
society that will mainly use contributions from you--the
reader, the web surfer--to the people who need it through
professionally run NGOs. The progress that is made in
rebuilding lives and villages will be reported back to
you through this web site and through the pages of India
Today magazine.
Given the fluid nature of the disaster, CARE TODAY is
presently organising short-term intervention. We will
help the worst-affected villages (the number adopted will
depend on the funds available) with drinking water, fodder
and wage labour until the rains come. In the long term,
we will strengthen the ability of local communities to
withstand similar situations in the future by repairing
and building water-supply and storage infrastructure,
and recharge sources of water. The actual work will be
managed by local community groups in partnership with
a local NGO. Technical support will be provided by the
best organisations in the field. CARE TODAY is presently
in the process of evaluating the worst-affected villages,
the best NGOs and technical help. We will inform you of
our progress on this web site.
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