Severe drought conditions in the state over the past two years ignored by politicians during campaigns, say farmers
Photo for representation: iStock
In the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaigns across Jharkhand, political parties are focusing on national and regional issues, yet a significant topic that affects hundreds of thousands of people in the state is conspicuously absent from the discourse — drought.
The Jharkhand elections, to be held on May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1, will elect 14 members of parliament without addressing the critical issue in campaigns.
Over the past two years, Jharkhand has faced severe drought conditions, with 2022 and 2023 witnessing reduced rainfall, leading to crop failures, water scarcity and disruptions in daily life. The impact has been far-reaching, with many rural communities struggling to meet basic needs.
In some districts, the lack of water has caused agricultural losses, forcing farmers to seek alternative livelihoods or migrate to urban areas in search of work.
While prominent speakers from the two main rival parties have been vocal about a range of issues, there’s a noticeable silence on environmental matters such as drought, deforestation and the adverse effects of unchecked mining. This lack of concern is also reflected in the minimal attention given to environmental issues in party manifestos.
Drought or sukha as it is locally known, is not new to Jharkhand, a tribal-dominated and mineral-rich state. Since its formation in 2000, Jharkhand has experienced repeated droughts every one or two years, with portions of the state declared drought-affected 13 or 14 times.
Jharkhand experienced consecutive droughts in 2022 and 2023, following periods of normal rainfall during the COVID-19 years of 2020 and 2021. The state recorded bumper paddy production of 4.9 million tonnes and 5 million tonnes in 2020 and 2021, thanks to the adequate rainfall during those years.
In 2023, 158 out of 260 blocks in 17 out of 24 districts were declared drought-affected, impacting 1.5 million people. In 2022, 226 blocks across 22 districts were declared drought-affected, affecting more than 3.3 million of the state’s 4 million farmers.
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The state government announced drought relief for affected farmers, inviting online applications for compensation in three categories. More than three million farmers applied for drought relief last year, and the state has requested financial assistance from the central government.
Dinesh Kumar Mishra, an environmentalist and authority on the river network who is based in Jamshedpur, noted that drought has not been an election issue in Jharkhand. “I’ve not heard any politician mention drought during the campaign. There is no discussion on it, as it’’s a non-issue for them,” he said.
Mishra also highlighted that local Hindi newspapers rarely cover drought-related issues.
With nearly 80 per cent of Jharkhand’s rural population relying on farming, repeated droughts have forced many to migrate in search of work. Harishwar Dayal, an economist in Ranchi, stated that neither political parties nor the public have pushed for drought as an election agenda.
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“Drought occurs frequently in Jharkhand, affecting small and marginal farmers and forcing them to migrate from rural areas to urban centres or outside the state,” he stated.
Maheshwar Uraon, a marginal farmer from Pipra block in Palamu district, expressed regret that the droughts forced him to migrate due to a lack of irrigation. “No political leaders talk about this problem,” he said.
Sanjay Basu Mallick, the founder of the Jharkhand Jungle Bachao Andolan, stated that despite the severe drought in 2022 and another in 2023, political leaders do not address the issue during elections. “Politicians are raising many issues, but drought does not come up,” he said.
According to Mallick, drought is a consequence of deforestation, over-mining, hill destruction, and groundwater depletion.
According to Kamlesh Singh, who runs the Udghosh Foundation, drought does not attract votes like other issues, so it is not featured in campaigns. Deepak Pandey, a private school teacher in Palamu, echoed this sentiment, claiming that farmers are helpless while mining companies can effectively lobby.
Santosh Yadav, a small farmer from Godda district in Santhal Pargana division, believes droughts and water scarcity should be discussed because they affect a large portion of the population.
As Jharkhand’s elections continue without addressing the drought, Meghnath, a documentary filmmaker in Ranchi, expressed his disappointment at the politicians’ indifference. “Politicians talk about drought before and after elections, but not during campaigns,” he said.
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