Prayas has always considered itself a partner in the development of the nation and sees its role as a ‘prime mover’ along side the Government, local administration and the disaster management agencies to facilitate networking & cooperation in areas of emergency relief, short-term and long- term rehabilitation, restoring livelihood opportunities, reduction of vulnerabilities & disaster preparedness of children & women and to prevent them from further exploitation and gender disparities. Therefore, as an agency committed to child survival, protection & rehabilitation, whenever any natural catastrophe struck the country it could never choose to operate in isolation, oblivious of the pain of the affected families right from its inception. As a result after the massive earthquake that hit Gujarat on 26 the January 2001 and the Tsunami earthquake in Andaman and Nicobar Islands in 2004, the organization decided to reach out to the crisis needs of the large population that was awaiting relief services.
Flood Disaster in Bihar: Supaul Prayas District:
In the year 2007, the disastrous flood in Samastipur, a much bigger flood disaster, which has been declared as a National Disaster by the Prime Minister of India, has struck several districts in Bihar on the changed course of the turbulent river ‘Kosi’, traditionally known as the ‘Sorrow of Bihar’. The districts of Bihar most badly affected are: Supaul, Araria, Madhepura, Purnia, Bhagalpur and khagaria. It is reported that in the inundated districts, nearly 2.5 million people are marooned in 441 villages and nearly 04 million people very badly affected. Nearly 65,000 hectares of land was said to be under water and most of the rail and road links snapped.
Having its vast experience of working in major disasters, such as, Gujarat Earthquake, Tsunami in Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Orissa cyclone, besides the latest Samastipur-Darbhanga flood 2007, the organization has activated its Bihar-based team to undertake the challenge, intervene the situation and join hands with the govt. and other organizations for rescue and rehabilitation in the worst-affected district – Supaul.
A dedicated team of Prayas with local and visiting volunteers with hands-on experience of flood disaster has set-up its rescue, relief and rehabilitation operations at the district headquarters Supaul and at Kattaiya 3, Bandh of 22 RD Basantpur Block. This area is under water, rendering thousands hungry, homeless and completely ravaged due to the fast and furious currents of Kosi, very close to its entry point in Bihar. Considering the ferocity of the flood and magnitude of the devastation of life and property and the need for rescue, relief and rehabilitation, the team is camping at this far-flung location almost 40 k.m. away from Raghopura, and nearly 80 k.m. inside from Supaul Township. The rescue operation in this remote and inaccessible area is being managed by the National disaster forces and Prayas is deeply participating to serve the marooned and displaced children, men and women through our own relief and rehabilitation camp.
Our team headed by Sri Amod K. Kanth, General Secretary Prayas, was camping at Supaul Apart from the rigorous follow up with the national, state and district level government functionaries, Police and disaster management authorities, Resident Commissioner in Delhi down to the key in officials of Supaul – District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, the Prayas-Anubhooti team under the banner ‘Punarwaas’, is present round-the-clock on the site of the disaster. They are busy in relief operations, joining in rescue process and tackling the situation for short-term relief and long-term rehabilitation of the flood victims, who are extremely deprived and poor. We are also trying to generate resources for the relief camp for nearly 5,000 flood victims along with a mobile trauma health care centre, which we propose to set up in Supaul district in close association with the local government and communities.
Prayas has been able to set up a mega camp ‘PUNARWAS’ along with the partner organization, Anubhooti at Supaul. We are expected to cater to the needs of 5000 people. Already 2000 people have started residing in the camp and many more are expected to join soon. At present need assessment survey has been done and specific needs of the lactating mothers, children between the age group of 0-5, and 6-14 years have been identified as our target group, where intervention is required for relief and rehabilitation.
Following an intensive survey and need analysis by Prayas to understand the ground requirements and resource-need analysis, we have initiated multiple programs for children, women, elderly and disabled in distress for the support and rehabilitation. Some of the relief activities identified are as under-
- Distribution of food and other necessary items, such as, sattu, chiwara, gur, biscuits, milk powder, salt, bread, drinking water, match box, torch.
- Distribution of medicines like Chlorine tablets, Alum, Bleaching powder, Vaccine, Anti-snake vial, skin preventive medicine, medicated soap etc has been done for the flood affected people.
- Distribution of clothes among the flood affected people through the local community support.
- Other required materials- distribution of mosquitoes nets, match box, candle, plastic mug, bathing soap, and mosquito coil for the flood affected people.
- Distribution of roof tent material among the house less flood affected people in the form of Bamboo, Ropes, Plastic shed, Tripal for self support or sheds which will be prepared by the plastic bags for the shelter purpose.
- Establish one help desk for victimized children and women, the missing-and-found, and to save them from exploitative situations in close partnership with district officials and other organizations.
- Liaison with Govt. institutions – The organization will closely operate with the administration and also the officials of the State Government engaged in relief and rehabilitation work.
Prayas Intervention
In Bihar flood can be stated a curse for its people since the time immemorial during raining season as many districts of this state remain immersed with the spilling over water of the swollen rivers which have been flowing through these districts. The deluge that aggravated the natural calamity has broken the backbone of the developmental indicators leaving the people at large to face very difficult and struggling life. The devastating impacts of the disaster of the sullen rivers have either ended or changed the normalcy and routine life of people even many of them are not able to save their lives from the deadly affect of the rivers.
This year Saharsa, Araria, Purnia and Supaul districts of Bihar have been badly affected by the flood waters of “the sorrow of North Bihar” Koshi River compelling them to be home less as by the time 29 lacs people have been badly affected and encircled by flood water. Thousands of marooned people have been stranded and trapped by flood water owing to the change of the course of Koshi river. The district administration machineries have been working continuously to provide relief work along with evacuation process for the people who have been badly impacted by flood water but that efforts by the government machineries seem to be a drop in the ocean as only one lac people have been rescued and taken to the safer places and more than 41000 displaced people have taken shelter in relief camps stalled by many agencies. The catastrophe has created very pitiable and heart rending situation there and the flood-hit people are left to continue their lives until the grace of God.
First of all we will select such type of place which has been shown in the photograph given below. There we will provide our relief and rescue operation work for the affected people: –
• The flood affected people are compelled to drink flood water which may cause epidemic in those areas so we will provide the very first need of the flood victims that is pure and safe drinking water for that we will distribute chlorine and water purifier tablets.
• We will distribute milk powder for infants and babies as the food packets provided by all the agencies to the victimized people do not contain milk that is the food of the infant and babies as they depend to milk only so if milk powder is not distributed for the infants they may die of starvation as their parents are not in condition to give milk to their babies.
• We will distribute packets which will contain matchbox, candle, tourch, live saving drugs for the diseases like dehydration, malaria, fever etc. Having been continuously for the last 12 days with watery environment the victims are likely to face skin diseases so we will distribute them the medicines for that.
• We will provide food stuffs to the flood affected people and each packet will contain Chura, Sattu, Gur, Namak, bread etc.
• Cloths and polythene sheets are essential as most of them are now homeless and they have been taking sun shelter for the past twelve days so by making available these items to the flood-hit people we will try to continue their sustainability in those areas and in their turbulent predicament with the ever worst circumstances.
Prayas was setup two groups of people and the first group will discharge following activities:-
• First group: To find and select a place in district head quarter from where we will operate all the relief and rescue operation for example liaison of the agency with administration, providing safety and communications, packaging of the above materials which will be distributed in particular selected area and providing moral and psychological support to face the adverse circumstances positively and boldly.
• Second Group: The volunteers who have expertise over working in flood affected areas will be furnished with small shaded hut like structure which will serve as the point to provide various services to the victimized people and the volunteers will also establish coordination with the local influential people so that the most needy and flood afflicted people could be identified and will be handed over the materials. And day by day with providing the services in a speedy process we will convert that place in to a crisis intervention centre.
Earthquake Disaster in Gujarat
On January 26 2001, at 8.46am, a huge earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale shook the entire state of Gujarat, resulting in thousands of deaths admissive destruction of property, infrastructure and livestock. Prayas responded to the crisis immediately providing food, temporary shelter, trauma counselling,community centres and day care for orphaned children and women. Earthquake in the Kutch destroyed the houses leaving many families homeless. The health care facility was absent specially women and children were suffering from malnourishment- number of starvation death was on rise. Education infrastructure was nearly absent. There was no proper drinking water facility.
The Gujarat part of Prayas has gained a distinct identity as “Sneh-Prayas”. Following the massive earthquake (7.9 in Richter scale) in Gujarat. Prayas understood the need for crisis intervention in the State regarding conducting relief operation and mid-term to long-term rehabilitation. Prayas made the necessary initial spadework by sending a team to the worst affected localities in Kutch district of Gujarat to assess the immediate and long term needs. The team had established the required network with different government agencies in Gujarat besides the local, national and international voluntary groups, community people and other stakeholders. Prayas conducted detailed studies to assess the situation and initiated rehabilitative work for the in the worst earthquake affected areas of the state in the name of “Sneh-Prayas”.
Sneh-Prayas has been making constant efforts to create enabling supportive systems for the most vulnerable survivors of earthquake, particularly, children and women of the earthquake so that they can regain their normal life. Sneh-Prayas’ interventions cover 36 worst hit villages from the Bhachau taluka of Kutch area. (Please see Annexure-I). Sneh-Prayas started its intervention in earthquake relief and rehabilitation in Kutch with no resources. Afterwards, it developed partnership with several Govt. and Non-govt. agencies, involved in the field of relief and rehabilitation of earthquake victims in Kutch. In the process of evolution, Sneh-Prayas has evolved as an independent unit in Gujarat, which has a team of 36 self-sufficient volunteers and professionals as well as leadership.
Objective
Rehabilitation of the earthquake affected people in Kutch through self- help and focus on child survival, health of the women , community development and water issues.
About the project in brief:
The project covered the worst affected talukas of Kutch area serving fifty villages from the Bhachau taluka of the Kutch area and five slum communities in Ahmedabad. The project also focused on alternative education, vocational education, day care, mid- day meals and recreational services for children. Primary health care, counseling services, community mobilization and self- group activities for economic rehabilitation was taken up. Under this project shelters were also created for needy children and women with voluntary contribution of land by the villages. Besides, houses were constructed to help the disabled and most vulnerable section of the population affected by the earthquake. By way of promoting the rights of the disabled and providing legal support to the projects foster closer links between the earthquake victims and various government agencies meant to help the former. Additionally, a special livelihood support program was initiated to help the deserving whereby they were enabled to promote self-sustenance.
Tsunami Disaster in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands were practically wiped out by the tsunami in 2005. Responding to these need-based areas, Prayas, with its missionary zeal, is helping getting their lives back to normal.
DWEEP PRAYAS stands for the PRAYAS chapter of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It was established in January, 2005 soon after the Tsunami hit the islands on 26th December, 2004. In the initial years, it followed the policy of relief and support. During this phase, PRAYAS put all its effort to meet the needs and tackle the pressing concerns which arose because of the disaster. The strategy of PRAYAS during this period included immediate relief, trauma counseling for the victims, supplementary education to children who could not attend regular schools due to destruction caused by Tsunami and logistical support for continuing education. ‘Childline’ (1098) service which is a national 24 hour helpline for children was made operational for this purpose.
After three years of providing relief services to the children of the islands, DWEEP PRAYAS changed its policy of relief to rehabilitation and support. During this phase, DWEEP PRAYAS got involved in activities like restoration of services and rebuilding of health and educational infrastructure broken down by Tsunami. It also involved in behavior change oriented activities which are essential for sustainability of the restorations and rehabilitation programmes it has initiated.
It has also initiated implementation and smooth performance of National Flagship Programmes like NRHM, ICPS etc. Under NRHM, PRAYAS is the first agency to implement School Health Programme, formation of Village Health and Sanitation Committees and training thereof of making of Village Health Plans. PRAYAS is also a member of Child Welfare Committee formed under Juvenile JusticeAct,2000. It is also a member of two District level Committees on Monitoring of Children’s Homes and functioning of Anganwadi Centres and on Monitoring of Implementation of Mid Day meal Scheme in South Andaman District.
Childline: (1098):
Child line – 1098 – 24 Hours Helpline Number For Children In Distress. Child line is a toll free helpline Number (1098) for children in need of care and protection.
Child line 1098 in Andaman and Nicobar was started post Tsunami as a project of Ministry of Women and Child Development. Childline 1098 at ANI has in 2008 alone intervened in more than 1000 cases and benefited around 400 children in need of care and protection. Child line 1098 services have been appreciated by various linked departments and its services like Library and counseling has been widely beneficial to more than 500 Children. Child line implements its activities through awareness and community works to increase the call statistics so that every child in distress reaches out for justice through Child line. The call centre is centrally located at Port Blair and its team members are scattered over Little Andaman, Campbell Bay and Port Blair and its adjoining areas.
The project on Water and Sanitation Project at Baratang was started keeping in view the unsafe water, poor sanitation and unhygienic facilities in schools and in the community. The project is prepared and implemented in partnership with Terres Des Hommes, Lausanne. In the community / School the pipe water is not safe but consumed by most of the families and students without any treatment or purification. There is very limited understanding of hygiene practice. Through the HH Survey it is identified that nearly 90% of the families still don’t have their latrines at their homes. Hand washing after defecation remains very limited hand washing practice during critical time. The PHC verbal communication reveals that 25% of patient with illness are through feacal contamination. Through home visit both adult and children are identified very high skin infections and referred to PHC for the treatment. Awareness and knowledge on sanitation and hygiene issues is very low.
WATSAN at Little Andaman:
The project was built in the backdrop of the destruction of health infrastructures in the island of Little Andaman by devastating Tsunami. The project is combined with School Health Programme run under the umbrella of National Rural Health Mission and is implemented with Terres Des Hommes, Lausane. As part of the project, health infrastructures like toilets were built in 6 schools of the island while refurbishment has been done in all the existing toilets which were not maintained since Tsunami. Additionally, health check ups, recording data in Health Cards for every child ,referrals of sick children to the nearest Primary Health Centres and beyond followed by home visits are done once in every six months. The teachers of Government schools and Anganwadi Workers were trained on childhood illness and diseases.
Adolescent Health at Little Andaman:
This project aims at improving the health of adolescents in Little Andaman Island. It is in continuation of the previous project on child health. During implementation of the programme, it was identified that not much of work has been done for the adolescents there. They lack the motivation and interest to study owing to the limited career opportunities. They also lack life skills and skill based health education resulting in eloping, early marriage and early pregnancy with severe consequence of death. In this backdrop, the current activities have been planned and being implemented.
As part of the project, health checkups are being done for school going children along with deworming medication. The children were also checked for their blood groups and Haemoglobin level and the findings are entered in the health cards and handed over to the children. Special health check up for in and out of school adolescents are also being done and the data is entered into a Adolescent Health Card. Sick children and adolescents are referred to the nearest Primary Health Centre and beyond for further treatment.
PRAYAS has also initiated a process of advocacy and campaign against the issues like consumption of liquar, early marriage, early pregnancy, quality education etc which play a pivotal role in children being abused. For this it has taken help of role plays, street plays, freeze images, line drawings etc. It has also been able to gather the community at Little Andaman to stand against domestic violence and getting justice for the victim.
