Showing posts with label floods. Show all posts
Showing posts with label floods. Show all posts
Climate change puts 3 million Malawians at risk of starvation
Madalitso Kateta, CNS Correspondent, Malawi
Millions of Malawians risk starvation unless concerted measures are taken to revert the effects of the food crisis, that is worsening in many parts of Southern Malawi. While the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC) estimated that 2.83 million people will experience acute food insecurity during the 2015-16 lean season, I found that in three Southern Malawi Districts of Balaka, Neno and Chikhwawa the hunger situation has reached its worst point with people now surviving on wild tubers and unripe mangoes, as the country is also experiencing one of its worst economic situations.
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| Photo credit: Alina Saba |
Local response to fury of Bahraich floods
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| DM supervising the hand-pump construction |
When rains ravaged North Karnataka
Incessant downpour in drought prone and poverty stricken northern Karnataka.Aftermath: 5000 villages in 12 districts inundated. 225 lives lost in a day. Worst in 60 years. Estimated total loss - 18000 crores.
In this article, are some revealing images from "The Deluge and After", a homage to the victims and survivors by Esha and ActionAid. Read more
Sardar Sarovar affected advasis to challenge submergence without rehabilitation
Sardar Sarovar affected advasis to challenge submergence without rehabilitation
NARMADA IN FULL SPATE AGAIN
GROSS ILLEGALITY AND CALLOUSNESS OF STATE EXPOSED
SAVE THE VALLEY – ENSURE JUSTICE
Narmada is in full spate, yet again! Maximum water has flown into the Sardar Sarovar dam affected areas since yesterday night, resulting into submergence of mainly farms, though the waters have also reached tens of houses and submerged some huts in the villages such as Kharya Bhadal in Badwani and Bhitada in Alirajpur (both in M.P.) and Chimalkhedi in Maharashtra. The swell in the waters has also been accentuated by release of waters from the reservoirs of the Tawa, Bargi Omkareshwar dams in the upstream.
The adivasis had to save their belongings, from the roaring sea-like Narmada by working over night while they have never even thought of leaving their villages, without fair and just rehabilitation, come what may. Not less than a few hundred farms / land holdings have got flooded with the rising waters and the crop stands destroyed in the hills and the plains.
Preliminary figures coming out are: 17 farms in Manibeli, 3 in Dhankhedi, 40 in Chimalkhedi, 3 in Sinduri, 33 in Bamni, 15 in Danel, 13 in Mukhdi, 4 in Savyari Digar as well as 19 in Bhadal (all in Maharashtra).
The numbers from Alirajpur district of Madhya Pradesh have not yet reached us since no means of communication were working and even the boats were defunct since the huge waves in Narmada did not relent. In village Kharya Bhadal in Badwani, however it is come to be known for sure that the farms of Lal sing and Jamsing which were not even acquired were submerged!! In Badwani (M.P.), farms in villages like Bhilkheda, Bavthi, Pichhodi too are flooded but marginally while the temples of Kalghat have gone under waters, though not the 3000-strong
thickly populated village.
In the region of Nimad, Narmada itself has come to help in establishing the fact that the adhocly changing Back Water levels (BWLs) and the related conflict amongst the central and state ministries and authorities on the one hand and the State of Madhya Pradesh. and its people on the other is exposing the fact of not just no rehabilitation, but not even the finalization of the total number of project affected families / villages, and the game of numbers continues.
Families in the villages of Gujarat who are not yet rehabilitated as per law and policy too have faced the brunt, but there is no concrete information reaching here till date. We are on the way to the villages and hence more info will come to you soon.
There has been no sign of the so called ‘mechanism of vigilance’ and support during submergence which the Government seemingly ‘plans’ and allots lakhs of rupees budget for and claims that it would ‘take care’ of the affected communities on a large scale and protect human life and property!
All this has proved the Government claims and affidavits to be false once again, since the families habitated in these villages have again faced destruction, in spite of their being entitled to rehabilitation prior to any submergence of any of their properties. The authorities such as NCA with the Ministry of Social Justice at the helm of affairs too have certainly failed in ensuing not just compliance but also instilling confidence in any one who is not begging for resettlement benefits but asserting his/her rights. Instead the huge corruption that the NVDA and State Governments have been involved in has exposed the hollow claims of rehabilitation, as Courts and Commission of inquiry continue to unearth corruption.
TAKE ACTION: WRITE TO AUTHORITIES: DEMAND JUSTICE
Come what may, the fight is on in the field and in the Court and we hope TRUTH WILL PREVAIL. We appeal to all conscientious supporters of ours to write to the concerned authorities, expressing your anguish and demanding immediate justice to the affected families:
1. Write to the Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra and Rehabilitation Minister of Maharashtra condemning the submergence and impact and demanding immediate purchase of private land and rehabilitation of all the hundreds of families.
(a) Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Chief Minister, Madhya Pradesh
Ph: 0755-2551581, 0755-2551433; Fax: 0755-2551781, 0755-2540501
E-mail: cm@mp.nic.in
(b) Shri Ashok Chavan, Chief Minister, Maharashtra
Ph: 022-22025151, 022-22025222 ; Fax: 022-22029214, 23633272, 23631446
E-mail: chiefminister@maharashtra.gov.in
(c) Shri Dileep Deshmukh, Rehabilitation Minister, Maharashtra
Ph: 022-22875930; Fax: 022-22876342
E-mail: sec_r&r@maharashtra.gov.in
2. Write to Chairman and Director (Rehabilitation) of the statutory body, Narmada Control Authority, to play an honest role in monitoring the status of rehabilitation and not permitting any further submergence and further construction of SSP.
Dr. Afroz Ahmed, Director (Rehabilitation), NCA
Ph: 0731-2558603 (O) ; 0731-2574530 (R) ; Fax: 0731-2554333
E-mail: dir.rehab.nca@nic.in
3. Write to the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Minister of Environment and Forests to take appropriate action against the law-offending officials and authorities and ensure that NO submergence would occur without full rehabilitation, including guaranteeing alternative livelihoods and resettlement sites.
(a) Shri Mukul Wasnik, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment
Tel No: 011-23381001, 23381390 (O); 011-24641888 (R)
Fax: 011-24636655 ; 011-23381902
E-mail: msje@nic.in , m_wasnik@hotmail.com
(b) Shri Jairam Ramesh, Minister of Environment and Forests
Ph: 011-24361727, 23463958 ; 24362222 (Fax)
E-mail: mosef@nic.in , jairam@jairam-ramesh.com , jairam54@gmail.com
4. Urgently also write / fax to the Chief Justice of India and the Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court to convey your feelings and demanding protection of the constitutional rights of the affected population, asking if the courts are at least now convinced that justice needs to be accrued to the adivasis who are being forcibly and unceremoniously evicted from their home hearths and livelihoods?
Fax Nos: 011-23381508, 23381584, 23384336/23384533/23384447
E-mail: supremecourt@nic.in
Remember, even today, there are 40, 000 families in the submergence area of SSP and while no maximum flood has occurred this year also, if and when it occurs, anytime , any year, at the present height of 122 mts of dam wall, submergence threatens not less than 225 villages in 3 states including thickly populated 160 villages and 1 township in the plains of Nimad (M.P)
There are thus 2 lakh people in the submergence area even today, with farming, schooling, markers horticulture, agriculture and all community life on.
There is still HOPE THAT THE VALLEY WOULD BE SAVED with everyone’s support and prompt, persistent intervention.
Medha Patkar Ashish Mandloi Yogini Khanolkar Ratan (Kernet)
NARMADA IN FULL SPATE AGAIN
GROSS ILLEGALITY AND CALLOUSNESS OF STATE EXPOSED
SAVE THE VALLEY – ENSURE JUSTICE
Narmada is in full spate, yet again! Maximum water has flown into the Sardar Sarovar dam affected areas since yesterday night, resulting into submergence of mainly farms, though the waters have also reached tens of houses and submerged some huts in the villages such as Kharya Bhadal in Badwani and Bhitada in Alirajpur (both in M.P.) and Chimalkhedi in Maharashtra. The swell in the waters has also been accentuated by release of waters from the reservoirs of the Tawa, Bargi Omkareshwar dams in the upstream.
The adivasis had to save their belongings, from the roaring sea-like Narmada by working over night while they have never even thought of leaving their villages, without fair and just rehabilitation, come what may. Not less than a few hundred farms / land holdings have got flooded with the rising waters and the crop stands destroyed in the hills and the plains.
Preliminary figures coming out are: 17 farms in Manibeli, 3 in Dhankhedi, 40 in Chimalkhedi, 3 in Sinduri, 33 in Bamni, 15 in Danel, 13 in Mukhdi, 4 in Savyari Digar as well as 19 in Bhadal (all in Maharashtra).
The numbers from Alirajpur district of Madhya Pradesh have not yet reached us since no means of communication were working and even the boats were defunct since the huge waves in Narmada did not relent. In village Kharya Bhadal in Badwani, however it is come to be known for sure that the farms of Lal sing and Jamsing which were not even acquired were submerged!! In Badwani (M.P.), farms in villages like Bhilkheda, Bavthi, Pichhodi too are flooded but marginally while the temples of Kalghat have gone under waters, though not the 3000-strong
thickly populated village.
In the region of Nimad, Narmada itself has come to help in establishing the fact that the adhocly changing Back Water levels (BWLs) and the related conflict amongst the central and state ministries and authorities on the one hand and the State of Madhya Pradesh. and its people on the other is exposing the fact of not just no rehabilitation, but not even the finalization of the total number of project affected families / villages, and the game of numbers continues.
Families in the villages of Gujarat who are not yet rehabilitated as per law and policy too have faced the brunt, but there is no concrete information reaching here till date. We are on the way to the villages and hence more info will come to you soon.
There has been no sign of the so called ‘mechanism of vigilance’ and support during submergence which the Government seemingly ‘plans’ and allots lakhs of rupees budget for and claims that it would ‘take care’ of the affected communities on a large scale and protect human life and property!
All this has proved the Government claims and affidavits to be false once again, since the families habitated in these villages have again faced destruction, in spite of their being entitled to rehabilitation prior to any submergence of any of their properties. The authorities such as NCA with the Ministry of Social Justice at the helm of affairs too have certainly failed in ensuing not just compliance but also instilling confidence in any one who is not begging for resettlement benefits but asserting his/her rights. Instead the huge corruption that the NVDA and State Governments have been involved in has exposed the hollow claims of rehabilitation, as Courts and Commission of inquiry continue to unearth corruption.
TAKE ACTION: WRITE TO AUTHORITIES: DEMAND JUSTICE
Come what may, the fight is on in the field and in the Court and we hope TRUTH WILL PREVAIL. We appeal to all conscientious supporters of ours to write to the concerned authorities, expressing your anguish and demanding immediate justice to the affected families:
1. Write to the Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra and Rehabilitation Minister of Maharashtra condemning the submergence and impact and demanding immediate purchase of private land and rehabilitation of all the hundreds of families.
(a) Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Chief Minister, Madhya Pradesh
Ph: 0755-2551581, 0755-2551433; Fax: 0755-2551781, 0755-2540501
E-mail: cm@mp.nic.in
(b) Shri Ashok Chavan, Chief Minister, Maharashtra
Ph: 022-22025151, 022-22025222 ; Fax: 022-22029214, 23633272, 23631446
E-mail: chiefminister@maharashtra.gov.in
(c) Shri Dileep Deshmukh, Rehabilitation Minister, Maharashtra
Ph: 022-22875930; Fax: 022-22876342
E-mail: sec_r&r@maharashtra.gov.in
2. Write to Chairman and Director (Rehabilitation) of the statutory body, Narmada Control Authority, to play an honest role in monitoring the status of rehabilitation and not permitting any further submergence and further construction of SSP.
Dr. Afroz Ahmed, Director (Rehabilitation), NCA
Ph: 0731-2558603 (O) ; 0731-2574530 (R) ; Fax: 0731-2554333
E-mail: dir.rehab.nca@nic.in
3. Write to the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Minister of Environment and Forests to take appropriate action against the law-offending officials and authorities and ensure that NO submergence would occur without full rehabilitation, including guaranteeing alternative livelihoods and resettlement sites.
(a) Shri Mukul Wasnik, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment
Tel No: 011-23381001, 23381390 (O); 011-24641888 (R)
Fax: 011-24636655 ; 011-23381902
E-mail: msje@nic.in , m_wasnik@hotmail.com
(b) Shri Jairam Ramesh, Minister of Environment and Forests
Ph: 011-24361727, 23463958 ; 24362222 (Fax)
E-mail: mosef@nic.in , jairam@jairam-ramesh.com , jairam54@gmail.com
4. Urgently also write / fax to the Chief Justice of India and the Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court to convey your feelings and demanding protection of the constitutional rights of the affected population, asking if the courts are at least now convinced that justice needs to be accrued to the adivasis who are being forcibly and unceremoniously evicted from their home hearths and livelihoods?
Fax Nos: 011-23381508, 23381584, 23384336/23384533/23384447
E-mail: supremecourt@nic.in
Remember, even today, there are 40, 000 families in the submergence area of SSP and while no maximum flood has occurred this year also, if and when it occurs, anytime , any year, at the present height of 122 mts of dam wall, submergence threatens not less than 225 villages in 3 states including thickly populated 160 villages and 1 township in the plains of Nimad (M.P)
There are thus 2 lakh people in the submergence area even today, with farming, schooling, markers horticulture, agriculture and all community life on.
There is still HOPE THAT THE VALLEY WOULD BE SAVED with everyone’s support and prompt, persistent intervention.
Medha Patkar Ashish Mandloi Yogini Khanolkar Ratan (Kernet)
Living with floods is their destiny
Living with floods is their destiny
25 years old Mr. Shravan Kumar becomes very happy when he sees his growing agriculture fields. He did his post-graduation and Bachelor of Education form Gorakhpur. He says proudly, 'I love doing farming in my village rather than doing a job in the city. This way I can sustain myself and my 12 family members and also save about 8000 rupees annually.' He owns merely one acre of land, which is often troubled by floods. In this small piece of land he produces more than 20 varieties of crops. His village Laxmipur in Maharajganj district is in the Rohini River Basin and situated just 100 meters away from this river. This village faces heavy floods every year and almost all the crops are washed away. Mr. Kumar said, ' Five years ago I had no idea how to manage crops in the monsoon season. However, when I came in contact with Gorakhpur Environmental Action Group (GEAG), I learnt many adaptive methods and also got indigenous technical knowledge to strengthen agricultural production.' Now he can easily manage his crops' production and has becomes an ideal young farmer not only in his native village but in surrounding areas too.
Floods are a natural phenomenon occurring in the majority of the rivers in India. . The north-eastern region of Uttar Pradesh like Bahraich, Sidharthnagar, Maharajganj, Gorakhpur, Kushinagar and district Gazipur in south-eastern Uttar Pradesh are located in aheavy monsoon prone region. People in this area have been used to living with floods, and they have no hope of getting any help from the government to come out this bane. During monsoons, they have to spend many months on temporary shelters and community made embankments. Children can't go to schools as schools remain closed until the flood waters recede. They also face acute drinking water shortage.
"The state-built embankments near rivers did little beyond providing an elevated area for people to shift to, during floods. But with human beings and livestock under the same roof and in the absence of proper health and sanitation facilities, villagers had to endure inhuman conditions three months a year. Access to safe drinking water has been an annual problem during monsoons" said, Mohna Devi, who lives in Manoharchak, a heavy flood prone village in Maharajganj district.
According to Mr. Amit Kumar, Coordinator, Research and Advocacy working in GEAG , 'Human activities also play a major role in flood creation. Ponds and lakes meant for storing rainwater are being converted into land for housing or agriculture. Also, post monsoon, farmers intensively cultivate the newly created fertile silt stretches left behind by the receding floods. Subsequently, this encourages expansion of human settlements closer and closer towards the rivers, which only adds to the problem. Over a period of time, the decrease in natural water reservoirs and increase in human activities along riversides further impedes water drainage and causes floods.'
He further said that large parts of Uttar Pradesh are regularly affected by floods, which not only disturbs the livelihood of the people but has a deep physiological impact on them as well. The Government too, seems to be focusing more abrupt mitigation of flood devastation rather than a elongated and adaptive policy of flood diminution.'
"We can save food-grains and can increase agricultural production by adopting pre and post flood cultivation. Pre-flood crops are sweet potato, maize, cucumber, barnyard millet, finger millet, and some varieties of paddy like Narendra-97. Deep water crops are; Neel Kamal, Tal Makhana, Kamalgatta, Karmua and Tinni paddy. Post flood crops are Lobia, Oil seeds, potatoes, arkil peas, lentil, kulthi, boro paddy,' said Dr. Shiraj A Wajih, Senior Environmentalist and President, GEAG.
It is evident that there is no purpose of taking up development schemes like construction of roads and bridges without finding a permanent solution to the problem of floods, as the money spent on such project will only be washed away by the flood waters of the mighty river Rohini and its tributaries.
Close coordination with the neighboring states and the country of Nepal is also necessary as time and again gushing flood waters come down from Nepal. Despite the fact that a sizeable portion of the funds and time and energy spent on various development schemes are washed away by floods every year, the Government does not seem to be taking effective steps to solve the problem. If the Government is really serious about the development of Uttar Pradesh, especially eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh, then it has to adopt a multi pronged strategy to alleviate the sufferings of the flood victims.
Amit Dwivedi
(The author is a Special Correspondent to Citizen News Service (CNS). Email: amit@citizen-news.org, website: www.citizen-news.org)
Published in
Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh/ Chhattisgarh
Two Circles
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
Op-Ed News (OEN), USA
Citizen News Service (CNS)
The Seoul Times, Seoul, South Korea
25 years old Mr. Shravan Kumar becomes very happy when he sees his growing agriculture fields. He did his post-graduation and Bachelor of Education form Gorakhpur. He says proudly, 'I love doing farming in my village rather than doing a job in the city. This way I can sustain myself and my 12 family members and also save about 8000 rupees annually.' He owns merely one acre of land, which is often troubled by floods. In this small piece of land he produces more than 20 varieties of crops. His village Laxmipur in Maharajganj district is in the Rohini River Basin and situated just 100 meters away from this river. This village faces heavy floods every year and almost all the crops are washed away. Mr. Kumar said, ' Five years ago I had no idea how to manage crops in the monsoon season. However, when I came in contact with Gorakhpur Environmental Action Group (GEAG), I learnt many adaptive methods and also got indigenous technical knowledge to strengthen agricultural production.' Now he can easily manage his crops' production and has becomes an ideal young farmer not only in his native village but in surrounding areas too.
Floods are a natural phenomenon occurring in the majority of the rivers in India. . The north-eastern region of Uttar Pradesh like Bahraich, Sidharthnagar, Maharajganj, Gorakhpur, Kushinagar and district Gazipur in south-eastern Uttar Pradesh are located in aheavy monsoon prone region. People in this area have been used to living with floods, and they have no hope of getting any help from the government to come out this bane. During monsoons, they have to spend many months on temporary shelters and community made embankments. Children can't go to schools as schools remain closed until the flood waters recede. They also face acute drinking water shortage.
"The state-built embankments near rivers did little beyond providing an elevated area for people to shift to, during floods. But with human beings and livestock under the same roof and in the absence of proper health and sanitation facilities, villagers had to endure inhuman conditions three months a year. Access to safe drinking water has been an annual problem during monsoons" said, Mohna Devi, who lives in Manoharchak, a heavy flood prone village in Maharajganj district.
According to Mr. Amit Kumar, Coordinator, Research and Advocacy working in GEAG , 'Human activities also play a major role in flood creation. Ponds and lakes meant for storing rainwater are being converted into land for housing or agriculture. Also, post monsoon, farmers intensively cultivate the newly created fertile silt stretches left behind by the receding floods. Subsequently, this encourages expansion of human settlements closer and closer towards the rivers, which only adds to the problem. Over a period of time, the decrease in natural water reservoirs and increase in human activities along riversides further impedes water drainage and causes floods.'
He further said that large parts of Uttar Pradesh are regularly affected by floods, which not only disturbs the livelihood of the people but has a deep physiological impact on them as well. The Government too, seems to be focusing more abrupt mitigation of flood devastation rather than a elongated and adaptive policy of flood diminution.'
"We can save food-grains and can increase agricultural production by adopting pre and post flood cultivation. Pre-flood crops are sweet potato, maize, cucumber, barnyard millet, finger millet, and some varieties of paddy like Narendra-97. Deep water crops are; Neel Kamal, Tal Makhana, Kamalgatta, Karmua and Tinni paddy. Post flood crops are Lobia, Oil seeds, potatoes, arkil peas, lentil, kulthi, boro paddy,' said Dr. Shiraj A Wajih, Senior Environmentalist and President, GEAG.
It is evident that there is no purpose of taking up development schemes like construction of roads and bridges without finding a permanent solution to the problem of floods, as the money spent on such project will only be washed away by the flood waters of the mighty river Rohini and its tributaries.
Close coordination with the neighboring states and the country of Nepal is also necessary as time and again gushing flood waters come down from Nepal. Despite the fact that a sizeable portion of the funds and time and energy spent on various development schemes are washed away by floods every year, the Government does not seem to be taking effective steps to solve the problem. If the Government is really serious about the development of Uttar Pradesh, especially eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh, then it has to adopt a multi pronged strategy to alleviate the sufferings of the flood victims.
Amit Dwivedi
(The author is a Special Correspondent to Citizen News Service (CNS). Email: amit@citizen-news.org, website: www.citizen-news.org)
Published in
Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh/ Chhattisgarh
Two Circles
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
Op-Ed News (OEN), USA
Citizen News Service (CNS)
The Seoul Times, Seoul, South Korea
REPORT-from-the-Frontlines: Kosi flood affected Murliganj (Bihar)
REPORT-from-the-Frontlines:
Kosi flood affected Murliganj (Bihar)
Dr Sandeep Pandey
Asha Parivar and
National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM)
Report from visit to Kosi flood affected Murliganj Block of Madhepura Dist. in Bihar on 31st October and 1st November, 2008
Mahendra Yadav and his team of Asha Parivar is stationed in Babhangama, 15 kms. from Muraliganj Block headquarters of Madhepura Dist. of Bihar for over two months now to carry out relief operations and help people access relief from government schemes. Muraliganj is 80 kms. from Katihar railway station.
The salient points that emerged from my meeting with Asha Parivar and NAPM volunteers as well as from interaction with flood victims during a open debate organized by Mahendra on 1st November, 2008 at Muraliganj which was attended by 600-700 people are:
(1) People are being forced to vacate camps and mega camps as the government wants to abdicate its responsibility towards flood victims. While in camps the government has to take full responsibility of the affected people, including providing them food, health care, education to children, etc.
(2) The agricultural fields from which water is receding is now covered with various levels of sand. It is not cultivable until the sand is removed. On the other hand earth had been dug deep at several spots because of sharp water current. It'll take a year or two before people can start recultivating their fields.
(3) The farmers will need agricultural tools, seeds, fertilizers, etc., to start agriculture again. The question of how the sharecropper, who doesn't officially hold any land but undertook major part of agricultural activity, will receive compensation still needs to be addressed. Similarly other artisans will need their tools.
(4) People also need compensation for dead/lost cattle. The cattle which remain with the people are facing problem in being fed. The hay is all wet and government supply is unreliable because of rampant corruption.
(5) Health care facilities are poor. People have to often rush to private practitioners when the government system is not able to attend to them. There have been number of casualities due to negligence.
(6) All educational activity is standstill. It needs to begin.
(7) The compensation of Rs. 2250 in cash and one quintal of foodgrains is not being distributed honestly. At some places only 50-70 kgs. of foodgrains are being given. If somebody's name doesn't figure in APL or BPL lists, they are being denied relief.
(8) People should be encouraged to use RTI to access benefits flowing through various routine government schemes as well as those announced specially for flood victims.
Suggestions to Government:
-------------------------
(1) Make NREGS provision for 365 days for the next 1-2 years for flood affected areas of five districts affected by Kosi. People should be allowed to claim wages under NREGS for working to rebuild their own houses and for removing sand from their fields. People may have to be invited from other parts of Bihar and even other poorer states to remove sands from the fields under NREGS.
(2) PDS benefits to be extended to all families under BPL category. Supplies should be given on the basis of per member in family rather than per family. People need kerosene for lighting lamps in the night so that they can be saved from snake bites.
(3) Special package for reconstruction of Kosi flood affected area should be given by Central Government which should aim to help people get onto their feet. Various employment generation schemes will have to be implemented. The unemployed educated youth in this area should be provided with jobs.
(4) All flood affected families should be provided one Indira Awas housing.
Appeal to Civil Society:
------------------------
(1) Volunteers needed, esp. doctors, veterinary doctors and teachers.
(2) Asha Parivar has decided to reach out to 10,000 families. Blankets are needed for these families.
(3) Asha Parivar has decided to provide alternative housing at the cost of Rs. 700 per house to 1000 families. Funds needed for this.
(4) Asha Parivar needs volunteers from 10th November to 30th November for carrying out a survey.
(5) Equipments needed - computers, laptops, printer, modem and digital camera.
(6) One volunteer is needed who can take care of bookkeeping/accounts.
(7) Medicines needed.
(8) Cattle feed needed.
Any relief material from anywhere in India should be booked for railway station of Katihar (NF Railway) and the 'bilty' (to claim the material from the railways) should be sent to Mahendra Yadav at the address: Asha Parivar, c/o Paramount School, Babhangama, Muraliganj Block, Dist. Madhepura, Mobile: 9973936658.
Any financial contributions may be sent in the name of 'Asha' to: Vallabhacharya Pandey, Village Bhandaha Kalan, Post Kaithi, Varanasi-221116, Ph: (0542) 2618201, 2618301, 2618401, Mobile : 9415256848, ashakashi@gmail.com
For more information, please contact:
------------------------------------
Dr Sandeep Pandey
Asha Parivar and
National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM)
Phone: 0522 2347365
Email: ashaashram@yahoo.com
Kosi flood affected Murliganj (Bihar)
Dr Sandeep Pandey
Asha Parivar and
National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM)
Report from visit to Kosi flood affected Murliganj Block of Madhepura Dist. in Bihar on 31st October and 1st November, 2008
Mahendra Yadav and his team of Asha Parivar is stationed in Babhangama, 15 kms. from Muraliganj Block headquarters of Madhepura Dist. of Bihar for over two months now to carry out relief operations and help people access relief from government schemes. Muraliganj is 80 kms. from Katihar railway station.
The salient points that emerged from my meeting with Asha Parivar and NAPM volunteers as well as from interaction with flood victims during a open debate organized by Mahendra on 1st November, 2008 at Muraliganj which was attended by 600-700 people are:
(1) People are being forced to vacate camps and mega camps as the government wants to abdicate its responsibility towards flood victims. While in camps the government has to take full responsibility of the affected people, including providing them food, health care, education to children, etc.
(2) The agricultural fields from which water is receding is now covered with various levels of sand. It is not cultivable until the sand is removed. On the other hand earth had been dug deep at several spots because of sharp water current. It'll take a year or two before people can start recultivating their fields.
(3) The farmers will need agricultural tools, seeds, fertilizers, etc., to start agriculture again. The question of how the sharecropper, who doesn't officially hold any land but undertook major part of agricultural activity, will receive compensation still needs to be addressed. Similarly other artisans will need their tools.
(4) People also need compensation for dead/lost cattle. The cattle which remain with the people are facing problem in being fed. The hay is all wet and government supply is unreliable because of rampant corruption.
(5) Health care facilities are poor. People have to often rush to private practitioners when the government system is not able to attend to them. There have been number of casualities due to negligence.
(6) All educational activity is standstill. It needs to begin.
(7) The compensation of Rs. 2250 in cash and one quintal of foodgrains is not being distributed honestly. At some places only 50-70 kgs. of foodgrains are being given. If somebody's name doesn't figure in APL or BPL lists, they are being denied relief.
(8) People should be encouraged to use RTI to access benefits flowing through various routine government schemes as well as those announced specially for flood victims.
Suggestions to Government:
-------------------------
(1) Make NREGS provision for 365 days for the next 1-2 years for flood affected areas of five districts affected by Kosi. People should be allowed to claim wages under NREGS for working to rebuild their own houses and for removing sand from their fields. People may have to be invited from other parts of Bihar and even other poorer states to remove sands from the fields under NREGS.
(2) PDS benefits to be extended to all families under BPL category. Supplies should be given on the basis of per member in family rather than per family. People need kerosene for lighting lamps in the night so that they can be saved from snake bites.
(3) Special package for reconstruction of Kosi flood affected area should be given by Central Government which should aim to help people get onto their feet. Various employment generation schemes will have to be implemented. The unemployed educated youth in this area should be provided with jobs.
(4) All flood affected families should be provided one Indira Awas housing.
Appeal to Civil Society:
------------------------
(1) Volunteers needed, esp. doctors, veterinary doctors and teachers.
(2) Asha Parivar has decided to reach out to 10,000 families. Blankets are needed for these families.
(3) Asha Parivar has decided to provide alternative housing at the cost of Rs. 700 per house to 1000 families. Funds needed for this.
(4) Asha Parivar needs volunteers from 10th November to 30th November for carrying out a survey.
(5) Equipments needed - computers, laptops, printer, modem and digital camera.
(6) One volunteer is needed who can take care of bookkeeping/accounts.
(7) Medicines needed.
(8) Cattle feed needed.
Any relief material from anywhere in India should be booked for railway station of Katihar (NF Railway) and the 'bilty' (to claim the material from the railways) should be sent to Mahendra Yadav at the address: Asha Parivar, c/o Paramount School, Babhangama, Muraliganj Block, Dist. Madhepura, Mobile: 9973936658.
Any financial contributions may be sent in the name of 'Asha' to: Vallabhacharya Pandey, Village Bhandaha Kalan, Post Kaithi, Varanasi-221116, Ph: (0542) 2618201, 2618301, 2618401, Mobile : 9415256848, ashakashi@gmail.com
For more information, please contact:
------------------------------------
Dr Sandeep Pandey
Asha Parivar and
National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM)
Phone: 0522 2347365
Email: ashaashram@yahoo.com
World Ozone Day (16 September) and our commitments
World Ozone Day (16 September) and our commitments
Vasu Shena Misra
September 16 every year is observed as "World Ozone Day". The celebration of this day is made to pay our homage to the ozone layer, that saves our earth from the harmful ultra-voilet radiation of the Sun.
The life on the Earth , depends on the energy provided by the Sun in the form of various radiations.
* Out of total energy received by the Earth, 35% will be reflected back to the space by the clouds, dust-particles and ice particles present in the atmosphere.
* 14% of the energy , which comes in the form of ultra violet radiation gets absorbed by the ozone layer, thus saving the earth from the harmful effects like over warming of the Earth or diseases like cancer
* 34% of the energy is radiated back from the Earth in the form of direct solar radiation and 17% radiated back from the Earth in the form of terrestrial radiation.
The part of the energy radiated back from the Earth unabsorbed is called "Albedo". Average Albedo ranges between 29% to 34%. Because of the artificial cover provided by the green house gases the Earth surface is unable to reflect the total energy thus gets heated. So lesser the Albedo more will be the temperature on the Earth and viceversa.
Besides this the tarnishing of ozone layer provides the way to ultra violet rays to enter in the Earth's atmosphere which can cause great destruction , catastrophies (famines ,droughts etc.) and diseases like cancer.
The fact that the density of ozone layer reduced considerably making the situation more horrified. (from 1956 to 1970 the density of the ozone layer was nearly 280 to 325 doveson which in 1994 got reduced to mere 94 doveson. The density has been on a decline since then.)
The gases which are responsible for increasing the Earth temperature artificially are called "green house gases " which includes:- carbon di-oxide, methane, chloro floro carbon (CFC), sulphur herxa-floride, nitrous oxide, perflorocarbon. These gases are called green house gases because they increase the temperature in the glass house made artificially to provide higher temperature in colder areas which in turn helps plants that are native to warmer climates, to grow in the hilly areas.
The gases like CFC, or carbon di-oxide have been used in the modern appliances like air-conditioners, refrigerators, fire extinguishers etc. So its looks like where there is more industrialisation there is greater chance of causing harm to the ozone layer.
But the reality is unbelievable and horrifying. Unbelievable because the ozone hole was discovered in the polar regions where there is negligible industrialisation and horrifying because this reality can cause more destruction in less time. The reason behind this reality is the polar stratosphere clouds provide basis for chlorine molecules (present in the CFC) to act freely in the colder regions ( as in polar regions) and in the presence of sunlight in the Antarctica region the chlorine molecules attacks on the ozone molecules (O3) and kill them in the process. More damaging fact is this molecule could have a life of 45 years to 250 years. This is also causing the glaciers to melt.
The recent report of the Inter-governmental Panel On Climate Change (IPCC) states that Earth's temperature has increased by 0.74% in the past hundred years. Its effects are disastrous like:
* Unexpected increase in the sea level that can submerge low lying regions including UK
* The melting of glaciers like Himadri in India, which will first result in floods and then a long lasting drought
* Exposure to ultra-violet rays can up the risk of cancers
* Unexpected climatic changes
USA which pretends itself as a global leader, is also the biggest producer of these harmful green-house gases (nearly 30%) but hasn't signed the "Kyoto Protocal" - a legally binding global treaty for reducing the emission of these gases.
To efficiently deal with this current fearsome situation, we have to take stringent steps. Some are:-
1. Save trees as they save life by inhaling harmful gas carbon-di-oxide.
2. more sustainable behaviour in our daily lives like saving energy at every step.
3. To use technologies which are environment-friendly, like bio-fertilizers.
4. The expansion of carbon trading by the developed countries from developing countries.
5. Globalize the technologies to the under developed nations that supports the climate.
Let us act now before it is too late.
Vasu Shena Misra
(The author is a development activist who did his post-graduation from University of Lucknow. He serves on the CNS board of writers)
Published in
Thai Indian, Bangkok, Thailand
News Track India, Delhi
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
The Seoul Times, Seoul, South Korea
Khabar Express, Bikaner, Rajasthan
Pakistan Post, Karachi, Pakistan
Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh/ Chhattisgarh
My News, Delhi
Assam Times, Guwahati, Assam
Vasu Shena Misra
September 16 every year is observed as "World Ozone Day". The celebration of this day is made to pay our homage to the ozone layer, that saves our earth from the harmful ultra-voilet radiation of the Sun.
The life on the Earth , depends on the energy provided by the Sun in the form of various radiations.
* Out of total energy received by the Earth, 35% will be reflected back to the space by the clouds, dust-particles and ice particles present in the atmosphere.
* 14% of the energy , which comes in the form of ultra violet radiation gets absorbed by the ozone layer, thus saving the earth from the harmful effects like over warming of the Earth or diseases like cancer
* 34% of the energy is radiated back from the Earth in the form of direct solar radiation and 17% radiated back from the Earth in the form of terrestrial radiation.
The part of the energy radiated back from the Earth unabsorbed is called "Albedo". Average Albedo ranges between 29% to 34%. Because of the artificial cover provided by the green house gases the Earth surface is unable to reflect the total energy thus gets heated. So lesser the Albedo more will be the temperature on the Earth and viceversa.
Besides this the tarnishing of ozone layer provides the way to ultra violet rays to enter in the Earth's atmosphere which can cause great destruction , catastrophies (famines ,droughts etc.) and diseases like cancer.
The fact that the density of ozone layer reduced considerably making the situation more horrified. (from 1956 to 1970 the density of the ozone layer was nearly 280 to 325 doveson which in 1994 got reduced to mere 94 doveson. The density has been on a decline since then.)
The gases which are responsible for increasing the Earth temperature artificially are called "green house gases " which includes:- carbon di-oxide, methane, chloro floro carbon (CFC), sulphur herxa-floride, nitrous oxide, perflorocarbon. These gases are called green house gases because they increase the temperature in the glass house made artificially to provide higher temperature in colder areas which in turn helps plants that are native to warmer climates, to grow in the hilly areas.
The gases like CFC, or carbon di-oxide have been used in the modern appliances like air-conditioners, refrigerators, fire extinguishers etc. So its looks like where there is more industrialisation there is greater chance of causing harm to the ozone layer.
But the reality is unbelievable and horrifying. Unbelievable because the ozone hole was discovered in the polar regions where there is negligible industrialisation and horrifying because this reality can cause more destruction in less time. The reason behind this reality is the polar stratosphere clouds provide basis for chlorine molecules (present in the CFC) to act freely in the colder regions ( as in polar regions) and in the presence of sunlight in the Antarctica region the chlorine molecules attacks on the ozone molecules (O3) and kill them in the process. More damaging fact is this molecule could have a life of 45 years to 250 years. This is also causing the glaciers to melt.
The recent report of the Inter-governmental Panel On Climate Change (IPCC) states that Earth's temperature has increased by 0.74% in the past hundred years. Its effects are disastrous like:
* Unexpected increase in the sea level that can submerge low lying regions including UK
* The melting of glaciers like Himadri in India, which will first result in floods and then a long lasting drought
* Exposure to ultra-violet rays can up the risk of cancers
* Unexpected climatic changes
USA which pretends itself as a global leader, is also the biggest producer of these harmful green-house gases (nearly 30%) but hasn't signed the "Kyoto Protocal" - a legally binding global treaty for reducing the emission of these gases.
To efficiently deal with this current fearsome situation, we have to take stringent steps. Some are:-
1. Save trees as they save life by inhaling harmful gas carbon-di-oxide.
2. more sustainable behaviour in our daily lives like saving energy at every step.
3. To use technologies which are environment-friendly, like bio-fertilizers.
4. The expansion of carbon trading by the developed countries from developing countries.
5. Globalize the technologies to the under developed nations that supports the climate.
Let us act now before it is too late.
Vasu Shena Misra
(The author is a development activist who did his post-graduation from University of Lucknow. He serves on the CNS board of writers)
Published in
Thai Indian, Bangkok, Thailand
News Track India, Delhi
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
The Seoul Times, Seoul, South Korea
Khabar Express, Bikaner, Rajasthan
Pakistan Post, Karachi, Pakistan
Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh/ Chhattisgarh
My News, Delhi
Assam Times, Guwahati, Assam
Oxfam ups the response to Bihar floods
Oxfam ups the response to Bihar floods
Amit Dwivedi
Senior Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) leader and Union Minister of State for Water Resources Jaiprakash Narayan Yadav accused the Bihar government of massive flood in the state by being "totally negligent" in taking preventive measures.
According to a media briefing on 3 Septemer 2008, Yadav alleged that Bihar State Water Resources Department, till August 17, kept on giving reports from the flood control cell that all the embankments under its jurisdiction were safe. However, when a breach in the east Kosi embankment at Kusaha in Nepal occurred on August 18, Yadav said, the Bihar Government came up with a report that erosions were taking place at the Kosi dam in Upper Nepal on Bahothan embankment for the past several days.
"This is how the government played with its own report to steer clear of its responsibility. This is not a hearsay disclosure but facts based on documents," Yadav said showing the copies of the Bihar Government reports to the reporters.
Regardless of who-so-ever may get the blame, the severity with which one of the worst floods in Bihar has devastated the lives of millions of people, will not diminish. Enormous rehabilitation and relief work, needs to be done. Many civil society organizations are rushing in to contribute towards the relief and rehabilitation work. One of them is Oxfam India. Oxfam has been working in India since the 1952 famine in Bihar and also undertakes long-term development work.
Oxfam India issued an appeal on Monday (1 September 2008) for funds to support its rescue and relief work in flood-hit Bihar. The money will be spent on delivering emergency shelter, food, hygiene items, clean drinking water and safe sanitation.
Oxfam and its local partner organisations have been rescuing people and responding to the crisis since August 18, when waters rushed into six eastern districts of Bihar from a 3 Km breach in River Kosi on the Nepal-India border. The worsening floods, with more rains predicted by the meteorological department, have already affected over 30 lakh people in 16 north-eastern districts of Bihar. The Prime Minister has declared the floods a national catastrophe.
Oxfam is using its motorboats to rescue stranded men, women and children from Supaul, the worst affected district. Contingency stocks of tarpaulin shelter sheets, water purification kits, buckets and Oral Rehydration Sachets (ORS), kept in readiness in flood prone districts, have also been moved to provide preliminary support to the affected. Staffers from Oxfam and two local organisations, Bihar Sewa Samiti and Abhigyan Disha, as well as trained volunteers, are working round the clock in Supaul.
"Oxfam is preparing to reach out, to being with atleast 20,000 families in Basantpur and Pratapganj, two of the worst affected blocks of Supaul," said Nisha Agrawal, CEO, Oxfam India. "We are scaling up our response on temporary shelter, food, water and sanitation. Women and children are particularly facing the brunt in cramped camps or are exposed to heat and the rains under the open sky. Pregnant and lactating mothers are not getting safe water and are forced to defecate in floodwaters. The need for hygiene and sanitation is imminent to prevent the spread of any water-borne epidemic."
Oxfam rapid assessment team toured the worst affected areas in the first few days and has recommended shelter, food and public health as the key needs. Oxfam is also coordinating from the start with other aid agencies and the government through the state-level Inter-Agency Coordination Group to ensure there is no duplication in response and that relief reaches all the needy people.
The public can donate to Oxfam by calling in on +91 11 46538000 or by sending a check in the name of Oxfam Trust, addressed to Oxfam India, Plot Number 1, 2nd Floor(above Sujan Mohinder Hospital), New Friends Colony, New Delhi - 110065 (www.oxfam.org).
A donation of Rs 2000 would give a shelter kit for a family; Rs 850 would give a hygiene kit for 5 families; and Rs 1000 would give a safe latrine to 2 families.
The hope that efforts of organizations like Oxfam will help the most affected communities, lives on.
Amit Dwivedi
(The author is a Special Correspondent to Citizen News Service (CNS) and can be contacted at: amit@citizen-news.org, website: www.citizen-news.org).
Published in
Bihar Times, Patna, Bihar
Scoop Independent News, New Zealand
Media for Freedom, Kathmandu, Nepal
Assam Times, Guwahati, Assam
Thai Indian News, Bangkok, Thailand
My News, Delhi
The Seoul Times, South Korea
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
News Track India, Delhi
News Blaze, USA
Pakistan Post, Karachi, Pakistan
News Track India, Delhi
News Blaze, USA
Pakistan Post, Karachi, Pakistan
Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh/ Chhattisgarh
Oxfam India issues appeal; scales up response to Bihar floods
Oxfam India issues appeal:
Scales up response to Bihar floods
Oxfam India issued an appeal on Monday (1 September 2008) for funds to support its rescue and relief work in flood-hit Bihar. The money will be spent on delivering emergency shelter, food, hygiene items, clean drinking water and safe sanitation.
Oxfam and its local partner organisations have been rescuing people and responding to the crisis since August 18, when waters rushed into six eastern districts of Bihar from a 3 Km breach in River Kosi on the Nepal-India border. The worsening floods, with more rains predicted by the meteorological department, have already affected over 30 lakh people in 16 north-eastern districts of Bihar. The Prime Minister has declared the floods a national catastrophe.
Oxfam is using its motorboats to rescue stranded men, women and children from Supaul, the worst affected district. Contingency stocks of tarpaulin shelter sheets, water purification kits, buckets and Oral Rehydration Sachets (ORS), kept in readiness in flood prone districts, have also been moved to provide preliminary support to the affected. Staffers from Oxfam and two local organisations, Bihar Sewa Samiti and Abhigyan Disha, as well as trained volunteers, are working round the clock in Supaul.
“Oxfam is preparing to reach out, to being with atleast 20,000 families in Basantpur and Pratapganj, two of the worst affected blocks of Supaul,” said Nisha Agrawal, CEO, Oxfam India. “We are scaling up our response on temporary shelter, food, water and sanitation. Women and children are particularly facing the brunt in cramped camps or are exposed to heat and the rains under the open sky. Pregnant and lactating mothers are not getting safe water and are forced to defecate in floodwaters. The need for hygiene and sanitation is imminent to prevent the spread of any water-borne epidemic.”
Oxfam rapid assessment team toured the worst affected areas in the first few days and has recommended shelter, food and public health as the key needs. Oxfam is also coordinating from the start with other aid agencies and the government through the state-level Inter-Agency Coordination Group to ensure there is no duplication in response and that relief reaches all the needy people.
The public can donate to Oxfam by calling in on +91 11 46538000 or by sending a check in the name of Oxfam Trust, addressed to Oxfam India, Plot Number 1, 2nd Floor(above Sujan Mohinder Hospital), New Friends Colony, New Delhi – 110065 (www.oxfam.org).
A donation of Rs 2000 would give a shelter kit for a family; Rs 850 would give a hygiene kit for 5 families; and Rs 1000 would give a safe latrine to 2 families.
For further information and to make a donation please contact:
Pamela Srivastava( for donations) : 0091-11-465380000(extension 118)
Aditi Kapoor (for media enquiries): 0091-11-465380000, 9810306200 or aditi@oxfamindia.org; akapoor@oxfam.org.uk
Notes to editors:
Oxfam India is an Indian organisation with an Indian Board and is part of the larger Oxfam International family (www.oxfam.org). Oxfam has been working in India since the 1952 famine in Bihar and also undertakes long-term development work. Oxfam believes in equality and justice for all and works by empowering communities to fight for their rights.
Oxfam India issued an appeal on Monday (1 September 2008) for funds to support its rescue and relief work in flood-hit Bihar. The money will be spent on delivering emergency shelter, food, hygiene items, clean drinking water and safe sanitation.
Oxfam and its local partner organisations have been rescuing people and responding to the crisis since August 18, when waters rushed into six eastern districts of Bihar from a 3 Km breach in River Kosi on the Nepal-India border. The worsening floods, with more rains predicted by the meteorological department, have already affected over 30 lakh people in 16 north-eastern districts of Bihar. The Prime Minister has declared the floods a national catastrophe.
Oxfam is using its motorboats to rescue stranded men, women and children from Supaul, the worst affected district. Contingency stocks of tarpaulin shelter sheets, water purification kits, buckets and Oral Rehydration Sachets (ORS), kept in readiness in flood prone districts, have also been moved to provide preliminary support to the affected. Staffers from Oxfam and two local organisations, Bihar Sewa Samiti and Abhigyan Disha, as well as trained volunteers, are working round the clock in Supaul.
“Oxfam is preparing to reach out, to being with atleast 20,000 families in Basantpur and Pratapganj, two of the worst affected blocks of Supaul,” said Nisha Agrawal, CEO, Oxfam India. “We are scaling up our response on temporary shelter, food, water and sanitation. Women and children are particularly facing the brunt in cramped camps or are exposed to heat and the rains under the open sky. Pregnant and lactating mothers are not getting safe water and are forced to defecate in floodwaters. The need for hygiene and sanitation is imminent to prevent the spread of any water-borne epidemic.”
Oxfam rapid assessment team toured the worst affected areas in the first few days and has recommended shelter, food and public health as the key needs. Oxfam is also coordinating from the start with other aid agencies and the government through the state-level Inter-Agency Coordination Group to ensure there is no duplication in response and that relief reaches all the needy people.
The public can donate to Oxfam by calling in on +91 11 46538000 or by sending a check in the name of Oxfam Trust, addressed to Oxfam India, Plot Number 1, 2nd Floor(above Sujan Mohinder Hospital), New Friends Colony, New Delhi – 110065 (www.oxfam.org).
A donation of Rs 2000 would give a shelter kit for a family; Rs 850 would give a hygiene kit for 5 families; and Rs 1000 would give a safe latrine to 2 families.
For further information and to make a donation please contact:
Pamela Srivastava( for donations) : 0091-11-465380000(extension 118)
Aditi Kapoor (for media enquiries): 0091-11-465380000, 9810306200 or aditi@oxfamindia.org; akapoor@oxfam.org.uk
Notes to editors:
Oxfam India is an Indian organisation with an Indian Board and is part of the larger Oxfam International family (www.oxfam.org). Oxfam has been working in India since the 1952 famine in Bihar and also undertakes long-term development work. Oxfam believes in equality and justice for all and works by empowering communities to fight for their rights.
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