OXFAM (India) Trust has successfully completed its drought relief programme by supporting 14 community- based organisations in the three worst-affected districts of western Orissa - Bolangir, Nuapada and Bargarh. "We would just like to give the government a demonstration of the drought mitigation programme with our limited r6ources in terms of humanpower and money," said the regional representative of Oxfam. Stressing that drought is more of a human-made disaster than a natural calamity, Oxfam aims to build the capacity of small and marginal farmers, agricultural labourers and women and children to cope with droughts in worst- affected districts.

Oxfam has devised a tank-within- tank (TWT) programme to ensure increased water availability in drought- struck areas and engaged locals through respective village communities in building these TWTs. In 14 blocks, 107 TWTs have reportedly been constructed. This has facilitated the deepening of the existing water tanks and the construction of new tanks in 150 villages.