Bulletine 5 Update on Bihar work by SSS 19-9-08

Priy Bhai / Bahan

Sadar  Jai Jagat,

            This is  an update of Sarvoday Rahat Abhiyan from the field in Flooded Bihar.

            Our relief phase consists of distribution of daily needs packets ( 5 Kg. rice, 2 Kg Potato, 1 Kg Poha, ½ Kg Murmura, 250 Gm. Oil, ½ Kg. Salt ) & Medical help.

            So far we have distributed daily needs at following centers.

1. Kataiya Power House, Bhim Nagar.

2. Pratapganj

3. Horwa, Lakshmi Nivas, (Madhubani)

4. Madhepura

5. Puluwaha (Triveniganj)

6. Purniya

7. Thana Bihpur

8. Sonvarsha

              Mr. Rajaram Mehta, Prakash Pran, Shatrughna Zaa, Shankar Bhai, Alimuddin, Lokendra, Dinesh Yadav, Avdharam Yadav, Tribhuvan Bhai are working day & night at these centers & taking care of the distribution.

            Rotating Medical camps are held at the following centers & nearby Villages Viz – Mazoulee, Madhepura,Chouhaddi, Sonvarsha, Raghopur, Bhimnagar.

            Dr. Navin Bhai Shah & 5 junior Doctors from Mumbai, Dr. Kothari & his colleague from Mumbai, Dr. Chaturvedi & Paramedical staff from Kalara – Sharif (Jodhpur, Raj.) are handling 300 to 400 Patients per day since 14 Sept. 08. Diarrhea, Fever, Skin diseases’ are found as more occurants.

            Sanjay Bhai, Lakhan Bhai, Dipen Bhai, Krishnakant, Lala Bhai have arrived from Gujrat and are helping to manage all this. Dr. Chheda (Mumbai) has arranged for Mumbai Doctors and truck load of Medicines in co-ordination with Senior Gandhian Shri Liladhar Gada, from Gujrat. Dinesh Bhai Sanghavi, another senior Gandhian from Kutch has also visited our work in Bihar from the view of rehabilitation to be undertaken after Oct. 08 .

              Saharsa Khadi Gramodyog Sangh (Lokendra, Shiv Bhai & Others), Vinoba Ashram, Saharasa and also Shri Arvind Bhai, Arundas, Nilimaben, and Sachidanand Singh from Bihar are straining their nerves since last 3 weeks with us .

          Tapeshwar Bhai (President Bihar Sarvoday Mandal) is working day & night  co-coordinating tremendously. Vijay Bhai (Sec. Bihar Sarvoday Mandal) is looking after Patna Office.

Channel 24 has also provided us with daily needs containing – aatta, rice, soaps, clothes, milk-powder, edible oil, Poha, Biscuits & few toys for children. They will still be sending more material   to us from Delhi  21 Sept. onwards.

Another team of doctors is coming in & Mr. Shubhmurti (President, Bihar Bhoodan board) will be starting another two medical camps at Araria & Forbisganj in another day or two. 5 Sarvodaya volunteers from Sevagram (Wardha, MH.) have joined today.

Till date we could cover population of approximately 30,000 for supplying daily needs. We could give medical help to approximately 6000 Patients. We could distribute about 30 tones of daily needs & a truck load of medicines and Shelter material to 500 families.

A camp for the live-stock (cows, Buffalos, Bullocks) is opened at Grambharti (Motipur,Supaul). Senior Gandhian Smt. Sarlaben is taking care of these apprx. 200 animals. About 4 tube wells are also provided for this purpose.

Till date we have collection of funds 14.5 lacs in cash. Expenses of 8.5 lacs has been incurred  on the distribution of daily needs & shelters. Apprx. Rs. 15,000/- have been spent over logistics, food for activists, doctors and volunteers working in the field.

 

            Friends ! this all we could do because Gandhians from all sectors, from bihar & all over india could join hand in hand. We know it’s very difficult in bihar as compare to other states for disaster management, still we  owe this much to Humanity, AND WILL CONTINUE DOING IN what ever possible way. THERE IS Still  A LONG WAY to go ahead .

                  We all have to work hard from wherever we are in these moments of calamity.  So please collect and send as much help you can.  Efforts for monetary collection are in full swing at Mumbai at Sadbhavna Sangh centre.

    For details contact       Kisan Gordia  E-mail / dostitrust @ yahoo.co.in  /  mob.09869288889

                                          Smita Shah  E-mail / smita_rys @ hotmail.com  /mob.09920349177

                                          Ramesh oza E-mail / ozaramesh@gmail.com    / mob. 09324641423. 

                   IT exemption under 80 G is available. Our  A/C with Bank of India, no.970010110001953 . is having RTGS facility. IF your cheque  is of other bank please put Bank of India’s code no.BKID 0009700 on it. please send your donations in the name of  “Sarva Seva Sangh” payeble on above A/C at Wardha.MH. For in-kind donations please call above  Sarvodaya activists.                                                                

            We will keep in touch with you.

 

Dr. Sugan Baranth,  Mahadev Vidrohi,  Ashok Bharat   - from the field of action in Bihar

 

Kisan Goradia,            Smitaben Shah          Ramesh Oza       - Mumbai Co-coordinators

Bihar Floods Bulletin #4

Aadarniya Bhai / Bahan, 

Sasneha Jai Jagat,  

Arrived yesterday from 6 day drastic and indepth visit to Bihar flood affected area. The terribleness which you might have seen through E’ Media is meager, as the situation is beyond expression in words. People coming out of homes are stunned which Psychological Trauma having lost their everything and some near and dear ones.

Articles of experts over the reasons behind the tragedy, published in print media  are now available for your knowledge on this blog ‘htpp://loksamitee.wordpress.com’ . Its our link for Sarvodaya Rahat Abhiyan. Hence I need not described more on reasons and symptoms. Instead I inform you about our activities there.    

We might have received our first 3 bulletins and 1 st appeal from 31st Aug. onward. Our activities of Gandhian’s worked first in rescue. Our organasitations – District Sarvodaya Mandal’s of Supaul, Madhepura and Saharsa, Grambharti, Kosichunouti, GPSVS, have rescued more than 22 thousand peoples with 10 boats, one six seater rickshaw and manually. This phase started before we knew details with the help of local people from August 20 onwards. In second phase we started relief work. In this phase A depot is established in Saharsa Dist. Khadi Gramodyog Sangh, D.B.Road,Saharsa. Where Lokendra Bhai, Shivnath Bhai, Tribhuvan Bhai, and team is looking after. Second Depot is opened at Vinoba Ashram, Saharsa Where Mahadev Vidrohi, Tapeshwar Bhai and Ashok Bharat are looking after.  

 We established relief camps come distribution centre at Bhim Nagar, Mazaou Chowk, Pratapganj (Dist.Supoul) in interiors of Triveni Ganj, Chatapur, Dist.Madhepura and at Thana Bihapur, Dist. Purniya and from Saharsa direct distribution by Kosi chunouti in Sonvarsha and Saurpur Tahsils. In the first phase of distribution till 15 th Sept.Gandhians distributed packs of Poha, Gud, Murmura, Chana as it was ready to consume food. From fifth onward we started distributing packs of five Kg rice, 1kg.Arhar Dal, 2 Kg. Aalu, ¼ kg.oil, 1kg. Poha, ½ kg. Murmura. In this second phase of release to have covered population worth 22 to 25 thousand. Lot of other daily needs or pouring in from hour fellow organizations outside Bihar which includes clothes, utensils. These are also distributed according to requirement.   

Doctors and medicines from Bombay have arrived on 13 Sept. Medical Camp has been already setup at Madhepura. Next team of Bombay Doctor reaching on 15/09/08  and second camp probably at Dinapatti or / and Thana Behapur will start on same day.  Distribution of dry food and medicine by boat to villagers of Chatapur and interears of Triveni Ganj Dinapatti will also be starting tomorrow or day after. We are also trying to help Govt. in sanitation and co-ordination in other sector, Since Tapeshwar Bhai and other senior Gandhian’s have good reputation with beurocrats.

Now we will have to continue this phase of relief wherever Govt.machinery is insufficient till mansoon evacuates. Most likely people we returned home by end of Oct. Then third phase of rehabilitation will be thought of . We will keep in touch with you for our needs till then our Mumbai co-ordinators will feed you about our updates.   

Efforts for all types of collection are in full swing at Mumbai at Sadbhavna Sangh centre. Dosti Trust, Arya Soap Premises, Hansraj Lane, Byculla (E) Mumbai-27.  

For details contact

Kisan Gordia E-mail / dostitrust @ yahoo.co.in / mob.09869288889

Smita Shah E-mail / smita_rys @ hotmail.com/mob.09920349177

Dr.Sugan Baranth 

President,

Sarva Seva Sangh, 

Our latest update from BIHAR FLOOD RELIEF

Bulletin 3                                                                           11-9-08

 

 

                                  Update from Bihar work by Sarva Seva Sangh

 

Priya Bhai-Bahen,

 

Sasneh  Jai Jagat .

 

               This a one more update from Sarva Seva Sangh work being carried out in Bihar Flood Relief. In the last Update we had said that 3 Camps at 1). Bhim Nagar, 2) Majauliya Nagar ,3) Belhi have already started catering to nearly 10,000 people.

 

              Now three more such camps are opened. 2 at Madhepure district namely, 4) Dalari and  5) Madheli ( supporting 2000 and 1000 people each) and 6th at Saur Bazar with 1000 people in it.

 

              Thus there are 6 camps with 14000 to 15000 people. Mostly, A big shade is erected in an open space and people are given cooked food. But now they have also started giving raw food packets with rice, daal, oil some utensils and other cooking materials with which a family can cook for itself.

 

            Still the urgency of medicines especially for children and pregnant women is of upper most importance. There is need for cleanliness efforts, pure drinking water, sanitation, clothes, utensils, bed shits. Also it is necessary to engage the people in some fruitful manner, slowly working towards their rehabilitation. Our daily expense is of nearly  Rs.1,25ooo/- . Some senior philanthropists and our coordinators from Mumbai are going to visit the location in couple of days to plan the future rehabilitation program.

 

            Therefore, friends, we can not diminish our efforts towards improving the situation. Wherever you are, pl come forward with a helping hand.

 

    For details contact       Kisan Gordia  E-mail / dostitrust @ yahoo.co.in  /  mob.09869288889

                                          Smita Shah  E-mail / smita_rys @ hotmail.com  /mob.09920349177

                                          Ramesh oza E-mail / ozaramesh@gmail.com    / mob. 09324641423. 

IT exemption under 80 G is available.

     Our  A/C with Bank of India, no.970010110001953 . is having RTGS facility. IF your cheque  is of other bank please put Bank of India’s code no. BKID 0009700 on it. please send your donations in the name of  “Sarva Seva Sangh” payeble on above A/C at Wardha- MH. For in-kind donations please call above  sarvodaya activists. 

       

                                                                 Smita Shah – Mumbai

                                                                                       Sarva Seva Sangh

 

Please donate the reqd list of medicines for Bihar Flood affected

Dear friends,

 

Here is the list of medicines reqd for BIHAR FLOOD RELIEF. For donations pl call Sadbhavna Sangh  02223725556, 9869289454, 9869413059.

 

 Kishan gordia : 09869288889 Smitata ben : 09920349177.

 

dear friends,
 here is the list of medicines with the reqd qty . please go through it
 .

MEDICINES——QTY   tablets / capsules –  1. paracitamol 500 mg = 10,000  2. ibuprofen + paracitamol = 5000  3. diclofenac + paracitamol = 5000  4. diclofenac 50 / 100 mg  5. clorphenarmine malate { cpm } = 10000  6. loperamide  7. metaclopramide = 5000  8. ranitidine150 mg = 5000  9. domperidone  10. omeprazole 20 mg  11. famotidine 20 mg  12. dexamethaxasone  13. stimetil 5 mg = 5000  14. deriphylline = 5000  15. deriphylline + theophylline  16. chloroquin 250  17. floroxsasone  18. doxycycline100/200 mg = 5000  19. metronidazole =10000  norfloxin 400/200 mg = 10000  ciprofloxacin500mg =5000  amoxyciline 125/250 mg = 5000  ofloxacin + ornidazole = 5000  azithromycin  ampiciline + cloxaceline  sparfloxacelin  septran ds { co – trimazole} = 10000  b-complex =10000  cyclopam = 5000

MEDICINES——QTY    injectables / intravenous fluids  gentamycin = 30cc 500 vials  dexamethaxasone  deriphylline = 500 ampules  diclofenac = 30cc 200vials  amicacin = 2500 vials    ciprofloxacin00 vials = 25  metaclopamide= 200 vials  phenarmine malate  dns = 5000 bottels  ns = 5000  rl = 5000  d 5% = 5000  iv set = 10000  scalp vein set no.22 = 3000

 

 

UPDATE ON THE FLOOD SITUATION IN BIHAR

•    UNPARDONABLE FLAWS AND DISCREPANCIES IN THE ROLE OF THE CENTRAL AND
BIHAR GOVERNMENT IN MANAGING THE TERRIBLE DISASTER CAUSED BY THE KOSHI
EMBANKMENT BREACH AND THE RIVER CHANGING ITS COURSE

•    INDEPENDENT JUDICIAL INQUIRY IS INDISPENSABLE TO PROBE INTO AND ANALYSE
THE CAUSES OF THIS CALAMITY

•    STOP ENTANGLING AND INTERFERING WITH THE NATURAL FLOWS OF THE RIVERS OF
NORTH BIHAR

The greed and ignorance of those in power, who typically interfered with the
changed natural flow of the ‘sapta Koshi’ (seven streams) and its 60
tributaries by erecting embankments, playing the politics of large dams, has
resulted in the displacement, starvation, deprivation and even death of many of
the 25-30 lakh people in Bihar. The Koshi calamity is illustration of the
catastrophic impacts on the lives and livelihood of people and the natural
resources that would accrue out of any such meddling with rivers, duping people
in the garb of ‘development’.

As in Supoul, even today, thousands of people in large numbers in village after
village are seeking haven on rooftops and canals, whether in Purlia, the
hamlets and villages of Madhupura and towns like Muraliganj already buried
under water, clinging to whatever little – cattle or resources – that has
been salvaged.

Citizens initiatives and civil society groups were the first to reach out and
even today many small groups and villagers are supporting the
calamity–affected. The role and response of the ‘State’ is admittedly
very haphazard and at once insensitive. This has become very clear to everyone.

Not a few tens, not even hundreds, no one is sure about the total number of
people whose lives have been lost in the calamity. That our state and society
does not have the strength to save these thousands, for almost 20 days, is not
just shocking but deeply agonizing. From what has been happening in Bihar since
the floods, we are convinced that not just right to life and livelihood of
lakhs of people, but even basic Constitutional guarantees and rights to food as
sustained in the orders of the Supreme Court of India are made funny and
trivialised.

Though, for the time being, the intervention by the civil society and the state
is, to a limited extent, bringing above a change in the situation, we do expect
the state to play a more pro-active role, with diligence and sensitivity with
better and co-ordinated planning and public participation, instituting a
function and effective grievance redressal and problem solving mechanism so
that at least the minimum goods and right of people are delivered.

Though the Prime Minister has announced a relief of Rs 1000 crores and made
available 1.5 lakh tonnes of food grains to Bihar Government, the role of
Centre does not end by this. That no Central Ministerial and monitoring team,
assisted by a Central Expert Committee has been constituted or operationalised
as mandated by the National Disaster Management Act, 2005 and National Disaster
Policy, is a grave blunder, more particularly since of displacement and
devastation of the lives of lakhs of people, is colossal.

This only explains the incapacity of the ‘State’. The inordinate delay and
incomplete delivering of the food grains provided by the Centre reaching to
hundreds of villages, is simply incomprehensible. What is the reason behind the
state not co-opting and involving the civil society, even today, in ensuring
the central grants reaching into all the villages. It is absolutely essential
that a functional and accessible Public Distribution System is immediately put
in place so that the state makes available adequate quantity of its food grains
and Kerosene at all non-governmental relief camps. The aerial dropping of food
packets, having proved to be unsuccessful and even physically dangerous at
places, it is necessary that some other method be used instead and the number
of boats be increased even to reach out with food supplies, to all those who
are still there in the villages.

Having listened to hordes of rescued villagers, fuel is an urgent need for a
well-planned and well-mannered boat-use system. All necessary things should be
at all rescue points, which are effective guidance-support centres that could
co-ordinate with every relief camp. Except for the provision that every
affected family be provided house plots and limited food grains as per the
guidelines of the National Calamity Relief Fund, it is quite apparent that the
Government of Bihar does not, till date, have any concrete policy for those
displaced by floods and calamities. Nonetheless, the rulers can escape from
their responsibility of providing compensation and alternative livelihood to
almost half of the population in Bihar that has been affected by the floods.

This in fact is the time for the process of formulation of a State
Rehabilitation Policy for all those affected and displaced, to be started
immediately.

Even as this life and death struggle continues, an open and informed debate
about the reasons behind the Koshi disaster must also go on. This must also be
in the contest of the official lackadaisical response and indulgence between
the 6th -18th August, as also the non-implementation of the Indo-Nepal
agreement on Koshi. Going beyond the statement of engineer Satyanarayan, full
information relating to the management the Koshi river, status of the
embankment in the previous year, its monitoring and maintenance and all
agreements and correspondence between the Government of Bihar and the Centre,
as also between the Governments of Nepal and India and all related information
must be placed before the people at the earliest. To objectively investigate
into and evaluate a disaster of this kind, a high level judicial commission
must be urgently constituted. If the Government does not do this on its own
volition, the Judiciary of this country should step in and do the needful. It
is also necessary that the National Human Rights Commission intervene into this
colossal human disaster, which was not happened till date and is quite
saddening.

The government of Bihar must, at least by now, concede to its folly of
considering high dams, embankments and having a sustainable solution, by
entangling the Koshi natural flows, which is replete with water and catchments.
The people of Bihar must quickly initiate an open and informed dialogue on
alternatives. A decentralized policy of flood management (as against flood
control) by effective co-ordination between the Governments and people of
Nepal, that would treat the land, water and green belt must be and is the
immediate need. The movements and experts need to be involved in the process of
any such alternative policy.

Medha Patkar        Vijay Bhai        Rajkumar Sinha

Donate for Bihar, Donate for Humanity

Priy Bhai -Bahen,

Sasneh Jai Jagat, 

    You are well aware that the team of all the office-bearers of Sarva Seva Sangh is in Bihar currently. This is an update from there.

 

 

 

 

 

    You are well aware that the team of all the office-bearers of Sarva Seva Sangh is in Bihar currently. This is an update from there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          SSS has planned to open total 11 camps in various areas. Out of which 3 have already begun. 1) Bhimnagar Camp( with 2500 people), 2) Majauliya Nagar Camp (with 5000 people), 3) Belhi Camp (with 2500 people). A 4th one is about to start at Saur Bazar area.

 

 

          The main immediate requirement is of medical help, medicines and food. We will have to plan to feed and sustain these 10000 people (and many more as new camps open up), for at least for 15 to 20 days. Government machinery has resources but no coordination and management, as it has been our old experience at past such occasions. 

       SSS President Dr. Sugan Baranth, past Presi. Shri Amarnathbhai, Maha Mantri Shri Mahadev Vidrohi ,along with our local Sarvodayi Karykarta Saralaben,  Shivanandji, Kapildevji, Rajendra Mehta, Suryanarayan Bharti , Prabhu Narayan , Hariprasad Agrawal ect. are going from village to village for surveying the situation and are taking decisions for distribution of the help material.

         The people of Bihar are giving us tremendous support and response. The river waters are receding and transport is opening up. We have lot to purchase and distribute appropriately and look after the medical needs of the victims.

 

         Friends, we all have to work hard from wherever we are in these moments of calamity.  So please collect and send as much help as you can.

 

          Efforts for monetary collection are in full swing at Mumbai at Sadbhavna Sangh centre.

 

          For details contact

Kisan Gordia  E-mail / dostitrust @ yahoo.co.in /  mob.09869288889,

 

Smita Shah  E-mail / smita_rys @ hotmail.com /mob.09920349177,

 

Ramesh oza E-mail / ozaramesh@gmail.com / mob. 09324641423.

 

VARSHA V V  mob.9869289453

ALPESH        mob.9869289454

 

 IT exemption under 80 G is available.

 

          Our  A/C with Bank of India , no.970010110001953 . is having RTGS facility.

 

IF your cheque  is of other bank please put Bank of India ’s code no.BKID 0009700 on it. please send your donations in the name of  “Sarva Seva Sangh” payable on above A/C at Wardha.MH. For in-kind donations please call above  sarvodaya activists.

 

                                                           Smita Shah – Mumbai

                                                                 Sarva Seva Sangh