*ZA RUBEZHOM, JULY 16, 1971
HEAVY BURDEN FOR INDIAN ECONOMY
It is already the 4th month after the tragic events which took place in East Pakistan that millions of refugees from this part of the world are leaving their homes and are seeking refuge in the neighboring Indian States of West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Bihar.
The number of refugees is increasing day by day. If at the end of May this was 3.5 million then now according to the official data it is more than 6 million. Most often these people having crossed the border are living under the open sky in thatched huts or shades put up in a hurry. Only a very small percentage could be accommodated in barrack and public buildings.
The huge accumulation of people at the special points for receiving the refugees is creating the danger of epidemics. In West Bengal where the majority of the refugees (arrive?) from East Pakistan that is about five million people, have concentrated already many cases of cholera including fatal cases have been observed. Happily the fast out- breaks of this disease have been controlled.
The influx of refugees is a heavy burden for the Indian economy. The Indian Government considers that for easing the lot of the East Pakistan refugees they require three billion rupees in the next six months and this can create the danger of over-straining the national budget.
Refuting the calls of various instigators to join a war with Pakistan in order to achieve the return of the refugees to their homes, Indira Gandhi made a request for giving help to India in solving this problem.
The Soviet Government responded to this request and had already presented India 50.000 tons of rice for the East Pakistani refugees.
Now the public opinion of many countries who are following the dramatic development of events in South Asia with anxiety and sympathy are waiting for a very quick settlement of the problem and creation of necessary condition for the normal return of the refugees to their homes.
*A Russian Language Weekly