M A I N   N E W S

Drought triggers migration
From Raman Mohan

HISAR, Nov 9 — The turbulence in several Rajasthan areas is creating ripples in the bordering districts of Haryana, including Hisar, Sirsa and Bhiwani.

While many Sirsa villages are witnessing the unusual phenomenon of hundreds of families of shepherds and farmers migrating in the wake of a severe drought in their villages, many villages in Loharu in Bhiwani district have been cut off from the neighbouring areas of Rajasthan due to the blockade of the Delhi-Jaipur highway by Rajasthan farmers protesting against shortage of power.

On the other hand, several villages of Hisar district are feeling the pinch of the curfew imposed in Bhadra town of Rajasthan yesterday following the death of two youths in police firing on demonstrators.

The migration of farmers and shepherds from Rajasthan during May and June to Haryana is an annual event. They keep wandering in Haryana for about 10 to 12 weeks before returning home as soon as the rains begin. However, it is highly unusual for them to seek shelter in bordering areas of Haryana at this time of the year. Scores of such families from Nohar tehsil of Rajasthan have been camping at Kumharia group of villages for the past several days.

Reports reaching here said they had been forced to migrate in the absence of adequate relief measures in the drought-affected areas of Rajasthan — witnessing drought for the third year in a row. Crops have vanished and trees are bereft of green leaves on which camels — the pivot of rural life in these areas — survive. Drinking water has become scarce as wells have dried up too.

The migrants say that this is the worst drought in a decade and Rajasthan government’s relief measures are wholly inadequate forcing them to seek shelter in Haryana. They are grateful to the Haryana villagers, who are readily sharing the scarce resources in their villages with the unexpected visitors. Though the host villages in Haryana too are reeling under a prolonged dry spell, but are in a better position because of better resource management and relief measures.

Haryana villages in Loharu area have been cut off from the neighbouring areas of Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunun district for the past four days. Hundreds of vehicles on the important Delhi-Jaipur highway have been stranded due to the blockade in protest against an acute shortage of power. The agitating farmers have blocked roads by cutting trees. The marriage season is at its peak and matrimonial alliances between families of adjoining areas of the two states are common. Many a bridegroom has had to trek to the bride’s village due to the road blockade and the baratis forced to retain without joining the ceremonies.

Likewise, the curfew in Bhadra has thrown the neighbouring Haryana villages in to a tizzy. Scores of families in these villages have close relatives residing in Bhadra and the tension prevailing there is keeping them on the tenterhooks. Besides, many of these Haryana villages have day-to-day financial dealing with traders in Bhadra. The clashes and the curfew have led to suspension of trade and business.

The firing took place when a mob protesting against the alleged murder of a schoolgirl clashed with the police on Tuesday. While one person died on the spot, another victim, a Muslim, died at the local Civil Hospital late Tuesday night. He had been brought here for treatment.