Calming the Kosi

As I waded through the knee-deep water in Saharsa and Methupura, I was moved by the enormity of the suffering...

As I waded through the knee-deep water in Saharsa and Methupura, I was moved by the enormity of the suffering all around me. The fury of the Kosi had displaced and marooned more than 30 lakh people. Yet, I was amazed to see the resilience of the human spirit. Relief camps had sprung up to provide basic necessities to the flood victims. Numerous philanthropists, corporate bodies and relief organisations supplemented the efforts of the administration, army and navy in providing relief. Hectic activities could be seen on both sides of the road near the affected areas that were lined up with temporary hutments. Charitable organisations and people were busy distributing food packets, dhotis and saris to those lucky enough to be near motorable roads. The scale of the operation led to some oversights: some received relief materials twice, or even multiple times.

Looking at them I wondered about the fate of people, who are still far away, totally cut-off. It dawned upon me that very soon relief operations would cease. Highly charged national emotions, would soon be diverted to the next calamity. Already, news of floods in other places has taken precedence over Bihar. Where will people find replacement for their lost crop and cattle? Will children have any schools to go to? Will the dispensaries and hospitals damaged beyond repair become serviceable again? Rebuilding their lives is a long, painful process. Though the PM declared it a national calamity, the extent of devastation, and its serious socio-economic repercussions have still not been fully realised.

Supported by the central government, the state government must identify the need and locations for new housing and schools. NGOs and corporate India should offer assistance by adopting such programs. Thousands are unemployed, without any income from cultivation. Business houses could offer employment to at least one member per family, besides adopting villages to improve living conditions. Rotary did remarkable work in Sri Lanka where it associated with some corporate entities and banks to build modern, vibrant schools in place of dilapidated buildings. Similarly, the Bihar government needs to prioritise infrastructure development including hospitals, community centres, electricity and water supply systems.

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Surprisingly the central government has not yet extended 100 per cent tax exemption for financial contributions in the wake of the disaster. This is normal for national disasters of this magnitude. Hopefully this exemption will be announced soon and will attract increased financial contributions. I support the government in not seeking help from foreign countries and, therefore, not giving general exemption under Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), as was done in Gujarat or after the tsunami. Nevertheless, exceptions for genuine NGOs should be considered on a case-to-case basis.

How will we confront this national tragedy? This is not just about Bihar but about what it means to be Indian. We overcame the trauma of the Gujarat earthquake and the tsunami. One only has to visit Bhuj, or some tsunami-struck areas in Tamil Nadu to see what we can do, if we put our mind to it. How we stand together and deliver will speak louder about our development as a nation of responsible and caring citizens than the Sensex and GDP. The time to act is now.

The writer is an industrialist, social worker and former World President of Rotary International