Dear Swati, Kuldeep and All
I have been following up some of the emails. Your concerns are really
appreciated. It is good that you have brought up the issues. Sorry, it will be
a long mail.
Last year I was in Bihar (Muzaffarpur & Samastipur) almost for 3 months
responding to the flood emergency there from my organizations and I am going
again this year (14th Sept) to Supaul & Araria of Bihar to support a (probably
a large scale) response there with the local partners. This year I was in Assam
also for 15 days in Lakhimpur coordinating emergency response there during
first spell of flash flood that happened & devastated many villages and urban
areas in JUNE. From the experiences of working in different emergencies in
India (including Kashmir earthquake, 2005 and Tsunami 2004 & being born and
brought up with flood) I echo the same points/concerns that you have raised.
The good point I had seen in Bihar from last year: government is very
pro-active and CM himself was monitoring the response by the district
administrations and departments; immediate actions were taken in case of non
performing staffs at least during the initial days. Govt. was cooperative with
civil society groups/NGOs (I work in an NGO) and setting up and facilitating
Coordination mechanism; CM had offered part of his building for
coordination/gave office space to agencies supporting to flood response with
fax/photocopy/internet facilities for better communication during the initial
days.
Bihar Institute of Public Administration (BIPARD) like we have Assam Admin
Staff College with support from UN agencies were coordinating the govt/ngo
response, they took initiative to collect and disseminate data to all - that
really helped agencies at national and international level to understand the
situation (damages, # of villages, houses damaged, marooned etc. etc) and make
necessary appeal to raise fund to support the process. From the government side
(2007) after the initial few days support, they distributed 50 kg rice and 50
kg wheat to each and every affected families. I personally visited many
villages and during monitoring families said that they received those.
Media's role was also critical in both the year (better though in 2008) in
bringing up the issues at national and international level. Climate
change/glaciers melting, river course change, inactiveness in government side
in repairing the dams that breached (or water had to be released), flooding in
traditionally non flooded areas, state govt. appeal to central govt. and civil
societies, media role, pro-activeness of civil society group - and overall
situation in Bihar (poverty, high malnutrition) etc are the reasons I feel -
which helped highlighting Bihar situation and attracting major funding form
both Govt & non government. Many corporate are looking for partners to
channelize the funding - for Assam drawing corporate interest is a challenge.
Getting authentic and detailed data (as quickly as possible) in Assam is little
difficult. I raised that issue in one of the Circle office in Assam - engage
the govt. person (if they can not rely on NGO data) to collect the data and
keep the information ready - computerised data - so that information can be
quickly shared. Infrastructure is a problem and the difficulties in which the
block and circle offices are operating are understood. Please note I do not
want to put blame on govt. I personally feel , I received good cooperation
from district admin & PHED during flood response in Assam (except a welcome
letter to the agency/agencies - asking to work and support district admin in
their respective areas).
Issue here is the people are affected - in some areas situation becoming worst
- important is to find ways how to bring supports to the communities. Better to
reflect on our own initiatives - what govt. and civil societies have been doing
and what can be done better. Need to differentiate: FEELINGS VS REALITIES. What
we feel and what is reality. Sometime it is good to blame ourselves - self
reflection is good. Time and quick and strategic decisions are very crucial in
emergency - you need to hit on right time and in right way - if there are
delays, there are no excuses, June - Aug/Sept is the flood season - many states
get flooded at the same time. There are competitions for resources - need be
realised. Technique of bringing up or highlighting the key issues, unmet needs
is also important.
One agency I really appreciate is the RVC - who have been in action and raising
disaster related issues of Assam at State and national level. There is an Inter
Agency Group in Assam, coordinating disaster issues in Assam (not active
recently though) - media, like minded people and organization can be part of
the process and help in raising the voices.
I do not want to make it long - will be sharing more information in future as I
could not complete it. Many thoughts (and frustrations as well) were coming -
at the same time do not want to make it long.
Thanks and regards,
Bipul BORAH
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