Forty-Five days after Cyclone Aila hit the state, people in the worst-affected districts of Bengal have received only one thing in the name of relief — government apathy.

Representatives of a Kolkata-based NGO had visited 53 affected villages to conduct a survey on the relief and rehabilitation work done by the government. The report reveals that hundreds of people in South and North 24-Parganas are living under the open sky sans safe drinking water and proper meals.

The report of the NGO, Paschim Banga Khet Majur Samiti, based on the data provided by the state disaster management department, said 1,32,074 people are currently living either in relief camps or on the embankments.

With complete disruption of economic life in the Sunderbans after the cyclone, people found themselves entirely dependent on relief provided by the government and NGOs.

“With the guarantee of food as an entitlement, the chief secretary is answerable to the Supreme Court for starvation deaths,” said Anuradha Talwar, head of the NGO. “People are still shelterless and the government is avoiding its responsibility,” she added.

Deputy Magistrate of South 24-Parganas Ramkrishna Malik said: “We are preparing the list of beneficiaries. Once the list is prepared we will start disbursing money. We hope we will be able to give money to the affected people within a week.” The report said that a relief manual or a famine code exists in every state, which lays down the norms to be followed by the government in times of crisis. The relief manual in West Bengal states that gratuitous relief (GR) of 12 kg per adult and 6 kg per child per month is to be provided in case of natural calamities.

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