N. Prabhu, a farmer who earns 75 rupees (US$1.60) a day, said he was forced to beg for relief as he was poor. About a third of India's one billion-plus population live below the poverty line.
"These are hard times for people in this district," Prabhu said. "They started giving away clothes and I took plenty. Rice and other supplies followed."
Policemen on rounds of the city chase away the villagers and at times cane them.
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