Migration from Thar reported
The News, By Muhammad Khalid, 29/10/2002

MIRPURKHAS: An NGO working in Thar in its recent report has said owing to a drought-like condition 21 per cent of households have migrated from Thar with entire families whereas 36 per cent of the breadwinners, especially males, have also left the arid zone in search of food. This 28-page report titled "An Assessment of Drought in Tharparkar Arid Zone 2002" compiled by NGO "Thar Deep Rural Development Programme" has said in the prevailing situation there would be a tough time for 36 per cent of families whose earning members or males have left the area and the responsibility to secure food in these families has been shifted to women members. "To make up for it the children would go for earning the livelihood," the report said.

It warned if the situation was not tackled carefully and timely it may cause increase in mortality of mothers and children. The report, based on research and surveys, said huge migration is reported from Taluka Nangarparkar, from where 42 per cent of households have migrated with entire families besides the earning members of 26 per cent of the remaining households also left for better places to seek wage labour and to arrange the feed for their animals.

The report said the scarcity of rain in monsoon 2002 resulted in failure of crop production and non-availability of grass in the grazing fields. This caused 70 per cent deficit in the resources of food of the poor. Sixty-five per cent increase in the livestock sale resulted in an average decline of 53.8 per cent market value, it said.

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