150 route de Ferney, P.O. Box 2100 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland
Tel: 41 22 791 6033 Fax: 41 22 791 6506 e-mail: [email protected] Appeal Coordinating Office
India
Assistance to Drought Affected ASIN42 Appeal Target: US$ 949,279
Geneva, 27 May 2004
Dear Colleagues,
In spite of a fairly good monsoon in most parts of the country in 2003, large tracts of the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra did not receive adequate rainfall. For some of the areas 2003 was the fourth consecutive year of drought.
The failure of crops has seriously affected the household economy in these rural areas, greatly increasing the incidence of indebtedness. Large scale migrations are taking place due to shortage of drinking water, scarcity of food, lack of employment and lack of fodder for livestock. In some places cattle camps have been set up and the fodder supply is organised through assistance from the government and from philanthropic organisations. Almost every water source is dry due to the third year of insufficient monsoon rains. Women in particular find life harder than usual having to wake up earlier for a long trek to get water for the family.
The Dalits and marginal farmers who, even in “good times”, have to take out loans to cultivate the lands leased to them by landowners, are falling deeper into debt due to the consecutive crop failures. Possessions of value are being sold off to provide basic necessities. Pressure and exploitation by unscrupulous money lenders on the Dalit and marginal farmers to repay loans with interest further aggravates conditions.
ACT member Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA) is proposing to assist the most vulnerable of the affected population with: Food for Work (rice / wheat); potable water, drilling of tube wells and fodder for livestock
This appeal may be revised to include a proposal from the United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India.
ACT is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide. The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland. India –Assistance to Drought Affected 2 ASIN42 Appeal
Project Completion Date: 31 December 2004
Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance Requested
US$ Total Appeal Target(s) 949,279 Less: Pledges/Contr. Recd. 0 Balance Requested from ACT Network 949,279
Please kindly send your contributions to the following ACT bank account:
Account Number – 240-432629.60A (USD) Account Name: ACT - Action by Churches Together UBS AG 8, rue du Rhône P.O. Box 2600 1211 Geneva 4 SWITZERLAND Swift address: UBSW CHZH12A
Please also inform the Finance Officer Jessie Kgoroeadira (direct tel. +4122/791.60.38, e-mail address [email protected]) of all pledges/contributions and transfers, including funds sent direct to the implementers, now that the Pledge Form is no longer attached to the Appeal.
We would appreciate being informed of any intent to submit applications for EU, USAID and/or other back donor funding and the subsequent results. We thank you in advance for your kind cooperation.
For further information please contact: ACT Director, Thor-Arne Prois (phone +41 22 791 6033 or mobile phone + 41 79 203 6055) or ACT Appeals Officer, Mieke Weeda (phone +41 22 791 6035 or mobile phone +41 79 285 2916)
ACT Web Site address: http://www.act-intl.org
Thor-Arne Prois Director, ACT Co-ordinating Office
India –Assistance to Drought Affected 3 ASIN42 Appeal
I. REQUESTING ACT MEMBER INFORMATION