FAMINE & DISEASE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 October 1943, Page 3

FAMINE & DISEASE

FEARS OF CATASTROPHE IN BENGAL OFFICIAL STATEMENTS CHALLENGED (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) CALCUTTA, October 26. Official statements that the famine situation in Bengal is easing are entirely misleading, according to Mrs Vijaya Pandit, president of the All-India Women’s Conference, who has returned to Calcutta after a tour of the Midnapore district. She said: “It is surprising to read in the newspapers that the situation is improving and that food and medical aid are being supplied in everincreasing measure. “The reverse is the case, and, unless immediate steps are taken, the province will be faced with another catastrophe in the form of an epidemic of disease. Months, if not years, of continuous effort, will be required to restore normal conditions. “Beggars responsible persons outside official quarters assess the mortality in some subdivisions of Bengal as 700 daily. Some of the more remote villages are entirely abandoned. Everywhere people are dying from malaria.” ALLEGED NEGLECT. OF NEEDS IN OTHER STATES. (Received This Day, 10.20 a.m.) LONDON, October 26. Sir Rama Swamiaiyar, who said it was impossible for him to accept responsibility for the good temper or continued patience of the people unless as much attention was paid to the food needs of Travancore and Cochin (Madras) as was paid to the shortage in Bengal, added: “Great as is Bengal’s need, that of Travancore is not less great, and Cochin’s is even greater.”