Evaluation of Drought Relief Scheme in Vaijapur Tehsil

Drought is one of the most frequently occurring national disasters in India. A drought may last for weeks, months, or even years. Sometimes, drought conditions can continue for a decade or more in a region. Agricultural production and incomes are adversely affected by drought, and poverty is relatively high in affected areas. A drought is defined as drier than normal conditions. This means that a drought is "a moisture deficit relative to the average water availability at a given location and season". There are a number of drought relief schemes implemented by the government in drought-prone Vaijapur tehsil. In this study only two drought relief schemes adopted by the government are studied namely, 1) Fodder Camp (Chara Chhawani) 2) Providing water through government tankers. This study found that the highest number of beneficiary villages and hamlets was in Aurangabad division and the lowest in Nagpur. According to the respondents, the water shortage problem in the Marathwada region is worsening due to drought, low rainfall, lack of water storage, misuse of water etc. The Government water tanker, acquired well and borewell are the most effective solutions for providing immediate relief from water scarcity in Vaijapur tehsil. The study also found that, the main reason for attending fodder camps was the lack of water, lack of animal feed, and to prevent migration. After joining the fodder camp, livestock have shown positive effects. This includes improvement in animal health, increased milk production, and clean drinking water for animals at the fodder camp. About 30 percent respondents expressed concerns about ineffective management, lack of water, and political interference. More than 60 percent of respondents were satisfied with the participation of the fodder camp and the water provided by the government tanker. In short, day by day the water shortage problem in the Marathwada region is worsening due to low rainfall and lack of water storage.