| Orissa Flood September
2008 |
Sneha Mishra: ‘The
situation overall was
quite grim and there was
massive devastation in
the affected area. There
were 2 human casualty
occurred in Sagadaiko GP
of Niali Block due to
flood and one more
casualty on snakebite
aftermath of Flood. In
Banki and Tigiria life
was save as a massive
evacuation operation by
the district
administration before
the flood reached the
area. But the physical
devastation of houses
even pucca houses,
livestock and paddy was
jeopardizing the
situation. People are
still in relief camps
and makeshift tents on
the embankment, School,
Clubs etc. The
administration has
provided relief like
flattened rice, rice,
cooked food and
polythene in few area.
However this is not at
all sufficient and
people are in need of
relief for some more
days. Specifically
people those are
displaced and trying
hard to get back to
their place after the
furious flood. This type
of flood was never seen
as described by the
elderly people in the
villages. From Niali a
number of people migrate
to other part of the
country in search of
work. The aftermath of
flood without any
agricultural
responsibility will
force people to migrate
in large number and thus
a possibility of
trafficking cannot be
ruled out. A number of
girls have trafficked to
UP and Maharastra
earlier from this belt
and this disaster might
be facilitating this
process if not responded
in time. While
discussing with the
women folk it was
realized that the number
of RTI cases got
increased after the
flood. Besides that a
lot of skin disease
(eczema in joints of
fingers and toes) is
seen besides common
cold, cough and fever.
The Anganwadi worker and
ASHA are doing their
duty quite well even
though they are not left
from the furry of the
flood.’
Sneha spoke with several
people like Mrs. Arati
Behera of Keutapana
village. Mrs. Arati
Behera is the AWW of the
village: ‘ My house is
totally collapsed and it
is a kuccha house. We
were all on the roof of
our neighbour’s house
which was a pucca house
with concrete roof top.
Early in the morning on
20th even that house
collapsed and we all
took shelter on the roof
of the house.’
Sneha: ‘ Mrs. Arati
could manage to float
and took shelter on the
bamboo bush before
people rescued her by a
country boat. But she
has not neglected on her
duty. All her record of
the center is flown in
the water but her spirit
is still indomitable.
This village belongs to
the Banki Block and
geographically this area
is under Athagarh
Subdivision and thus
people in this village
are still deprived from
usual course of relief
that comes form the
Block office which is in
other side of the
river.’
Sneha continues:
‘Children in any
emergency situation are
usually vulnerable. I
observed during the
visit that children are
again neglected. The
relief materials never
have baby food where as
the child population
data is always available
with the Govt. All the
School buildings are
used as relief camp and
it is quite obvious that
children would be off
from study for a long
time. Number of Schools
have damaged or still
marooned and thus likely
to take a long time to
come to the position of
imparting education.
Children are seen to be
spending time by roaming
here and there
aimlessly. I asked one
child Amar Behera of
Baulanga village and he
said with a blank eye ‘I
really do not know when
my Schools would start
functioning again.’ His
School building is
collapsed and part of it
is used as relief camp
having people and
animal. A possibility of
increasing in child
labour from the floods
affected area is likely
to be there. Most of
them have lost their
books, notebook and bags
etc Children from SC
community are at greater
risk of School drop out
as they might not afford
to get these materials
due to their vulnerable
position. Under this
circumstance the
vulnerability of forced
labour and trafficking
of children is most
likely to take place.
Sorts and game
equipments are lost and
children have obviously
stopped playing.
Children are mostly
suffering from common
cold and cough now and
as apprehend would
suffer from diarrhea.
Even though the AWWs
were supplied with some
medicine but periodic
health check up is quite
essential to do away the
possibility of any
severe health hazards.
Children those have lost
their house, belonging,
educational material and
moreover School are in a
loss. The devastation
has shaken the entire
community and the
reflection is more on
the children. This
environment is conducive
for the abuser and
children might face
abusive situation during
the period as the focus
of the adult is
definitely on reviving
than protection.’
Story of Amar: Amar is
in class 5 of the UGME
School in Baulanga
village. He was in a
camp with his parents
during the flood. His
parents and others in
the village were saying
that the river flowing
near their village would
spread into their
village. He was not sure
what kind of problem it
could be for them and
was thinking it will be
easier for many old
people who could not
walk down to the river
for bathing. After four
days of the flood he
came back to the village
with his parents and
could not believe this
was his village. He did
not find his house
instead there were some
stones and concrete
debris. Many of his
friends house were not
there. The big tree that
was protecting the
embankment was as if was
a defeated soldier and
fell down. Along with
some friends he ran
towards his School but
could not recognize as
most of the classrooms
were collapsed and
people are taking
shelter in part of the
building.
The water had receded
and Amar could not even
find the water coming
near to the village now.
He could not understand
how the river could
cause so much
devastation in their
village. He has
innumerable questions,
why does flood occur
like this taking away
everything? When is he
going to go School? From
where can he get his
books and bags? Can he
go to his house someday
and have food prepared
by his mother……and it
goes on...
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