§ Mr. Geoffrey Finsbergasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the famine problem in Maharashtra (Northern India); whether he will make aid available: and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. KershawThe food shortage in India caused by the short monsoon period in 1972 is particularly acute in parts of Maharashtra, which has suffered drought in three successive years. The Government of India have made commercial purchases to augment official grain stocks and have increased the acreage planted for harvesting this spring. Our programme of economic assistance to India is continuing at a high level, but the Indian Government have not asked us for help with this food situation.