Survey by Swaraj Abhiyan highlights plight of drought-hit Bundelkhand

NEW DELHI: Several villages in Bundelkhand region spread over Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are facing "acute shortage" of drinking water, cattle deaths along with "inaction" of the state machinery, a survey by Swaraj Abhiyan said.

Releasing the survey report, Swaraj Abhiyan co-founder Yogendra Yadav today said 40 per cent of the 43 surveyed villages in Madhya Pradesh were depending on "two or less" hand pumps for their water needs.

Among the 79 villages of Bundelkhand in Uttar Pradesh covered by the survey, the situation is a little better with 13 per cent villages having 2 or less number of working handpumps, he said.

The survey was conducted in 122 villages in Bundelkhand region of both the states.

"The water crisis appears to have reached alarming proportions in four districts-Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Panna and Datia-of Bundelkhand lying in MP," Yadav said.

Nearly 75 per cent of the surveyed villages in Bundelkhand in both UP and MP reported complete state "inaction" regarding drinking water crisis in last three months.

"Inaction of both MP and UP governments is reflected in terms of providing employment under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in the drought facing Bundelkhand villages.

"An abysmally low 5 per cent villages in MP reported ongoing employment work for job holders under MNREGS while the percentage was 29 in case of villages in UP," Yadav said.

Both the state governments appear to have "let the drought-stricken villagers down" at the face of drought, he said.