A scene at a goshala-cum-fodder camp; volunteers registering the farmers at the camp | Express

TUMAKURU: Villagers of Pavagada, an arid region in Tumakuru district, have faced drought over 50 times in the last six decades. Every time drought hits the region, farmers are left to fend for themselves with little support from the government. With them their cattle too suffer, either left to die or sold at throwaway prices in nearby villages due to lack of fodder. But one man's vision has alleviated that suffering to a great extent.

Swami Japananda and his fodder camps have ensured that cattle and humans dont stay hungry. Veerabhadrappa will vouch for this. During last year's drought, the debt-burdened farmer was staring at crop loss. The worry was how to feed his family of four and provide fodder for his 60 sheep.

"By doing menial jobs and taking more money on loan, I could somehow feed my family. But providing fodder to 60 sheep under such circumstances was impossible. Letting them die or selling them for almost free were the only two options available," says Veerabhadrappa.

So he decided to contact Sri Ramakrishna Sevashrama at Pavagada, where he could get fodder for free. "Without wasting a day, I rushed to meet the chairman Swami Japananda, and he obliged me with both fodder and words of consolation. He assured me of support until the next rain and my joy knew no bounds," says the farmer, adding had the Swamiji not supported them in those tough times, their cattle would have died.

The Sevashrama has been organising two-month long fodder camps for the needy farmers for the past three years. "This year, we started soon due to the early onslaught of drought," says the chairman.

At the ashram, fodder is procured from Kumbakonam and Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu and Vijayawada and Anantpur of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. The jowar comes from Ballari. Over 1,500 farming families in Pavagada and their cattle have survived the severe drought, courtesy this ashram.

"Forget about poor, even landlords with over 100 desi cows too got support from the ashram," points out councillor Vasantha Kumar.

Abuzz with activities

The ashram remains flooded with farmers and abuzz with activity during the fodder camps. On a dry Saturday when Express visited the ashram, Ramanaika (65) was seen loading hay on his bullock cart. Braving the scorching sun and playing the second fiddle were his wife and schoolgoing grandson and grand daughter. Every alternate day, he carries a load to Chinnappaiahna thanda hamlet to distribute it among six of his relatives.

For Chalapathi Siddagangamma couple, their moped is enough to carry the 15 kgs of hay. Residents in the vicinity have brought their cattle to feed hay. Availability of water is an added advantage here. Kanivenahalli Govindappa is all set to take away 5 kg of jowar meant for the sheep. "We also consume the same as food", he quips.

While the fodder comes free of cost, farmers only pay Rs 50 initially for the registration charge. They get a card in return, which they can use to procure fodder.

When the government gets impressed

It was during this time in 1985, Swami Japananda was sent to Pavagada as a volunteer to look after the gruel centres (ganji kendra) by Ramakrishna Ashram in Bengaluru. The initiative was supported by the then Ramakrishna Hegde-led government.

I wanted to volunteer at Kalaburagi, but Hedge insisted that I should go to Pavagada. Seeing the plight of the people here, I chose to stay back to serve, says the Swamiji while going down the memory lane. He started to run Swami Vivekananda Integrated Rural Health Centre and his good works soon drew the attention of the government. He was given the responsibility of implementing the National Leprosy Eradication Programme in 1992.

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