-Business Standard/ PTI Directs Centre to constitute a national disaster response force within the next six months In a strong indictment of Centre and states' handling of the drought situation, the Supreme Court on Wednesday said if state governments maintain an "ostrich-like attitude", Centre cannot wash its hands of constitutional responsibility, since the "buck stops" with it. The apex court, giving its judgment on a public interest litigation by Swaraj Abhiyan on drought,...

-PTI 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...

-PTI NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today asked the Centre to create a disaster mitigation fund to tackle drought- like situation and directed the Agriculture Ministry to hold a meeting within a week with affected states like Bihar, Gujarat and Haryana to assess the conditions.       A bench headed by Justice M B Lokur directed the Centre to also implement the provisions of Disaster Management Act and fix a time limit for...

-Press Note from Swaraj Abhiyan A latest survey of the drought stricken Bundelkhand region lying across Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh shows a crisis bordering on famine. While rains are at least 6-8 weeks away, drinking water crisis has hit its peak and has crossed the danger mark in the MP part of the region. Those living on the margins of society face hunger like situation and are being pushed...

-Livemint.com Compensation for crop loss due six months ago is yet to reach farmers, says Swaraj Abhiyan Villages across drought-hit Bundelkhand, a hilly region divided between the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, are reporting an abnormally high number of cattle deaths due to acute shortage of fodder and water, said a survey released on Monday. “For cattle the famine has arrived,” the survey by non-profit organization Swaraj Abhiyan said, adding,...