Famine and Famine Relief - Coping Strategy at the District Level

Drought induced famine is a recurrent feature in Rajasthan. The district (Udaipur in this case) is the critical unit for planning and implementing relief measures to tackle the crisis of famine. This paper such to examine the coping strategies in Udaipur district of Rajasthan in the context of such famines. Our finding is in terms of the immediate crisis, the response by the district administration is effective now. The classical spectra of famine is urbinally non-existent. However, famines require long term developmental efforts which have, no doubt, been initiated but have had little impact in terms of reducing the incidence of future famines. We feel that while famine relief works do provide means for employment at a time when the normal source of employment i.e. agricultural operations, dues out and thus, avert the major calamities, these are now emerging as a substitute for local level development.