Bijapur district of erstwhile Bombay Province faced famine during years 1936 to 1938 and 1940 to 1942. The Government on 8 December 1942 declared Bijapur as the famine affected district. Servants of India Society deputed Dinakar Desai to Bijapur district to assess the situation. Based on his comprehensive report, Servants of India Society constituted a Committee with Dinakar Desai as member-secretary. The Committee toured extensively in the District and was able to provide relief to the people affected by the famine.