The Guwahati Adda, an informal group meeting informally and irregularly was formed a couple of years ago. It meets at the office of Focus North East, a Public Relation organization of Sashankagupta Kashyap. The group takes up issues of common interest after discussing in the Adda. Few topics were Sky train in Guwahati, National Games in Assam-will it or won't it, International tourism in Assam etc.
The latest discussion was on "What after Floods?" From the Adda side Samudrgupta Kashyap, Sashankagupta Kashyap, Nitin Gokhale, Amiya Sharma, Diganta Barua, Adip Phukan, Manik Bora, Kishaloy Bhattacharya, Diganta Barua took part in the initial discussion. They were joined by Col. D Chakravarty, Col. Talukdar, Prof Aswini Baruwa (ASTEC), Prof S Kakati and AK Das (IITG), D Barkatoki an T Sarma (GVS), Mr. Bolin Bordoloi, Dr Samujjal Bhattacharya, Dr Sunita, Changkakati (ACRD), Mr. PP Changkakoti, Mr. M Das (Fishery Officer), and Mr. D Bhuyan (Agriculture Expert) etc.
The group discussed the concerns relating to monitoring of floods and relief, type of relief to ask for, livelihood, and preparedness and disaster management. It is indeed sad to find that forecasting systems are in place but the government did not disseminate the information properly. Warning system is also available but not in use – nobody seems to care, especially on the government side. Well, the floods offer a lot of opportunities. Don't you know that so many school buildings have been washed away when they existed on papers only?
The group also discussed the idea of having community centers specially built for keeping people and domestic animal during the floods. Such buildings are there in Bangladesh and each is about seven-eight storied. According to Sanjay Hazarika ex- NYT, these structures in Bangladesh were funded by various International organizations. We will have to think big. The places should also have specially made tube wells so that the nozzle/mouth is not submerged; solar lamps since there is normally no electricity in these areas and boats. Floods will be there and people have to live with them. One has to coordinate efforts to use the available grants etc to deal with floods immediately and prepare for next year. We need the help of the NRAs in the paper work, conceptualization etc.
Long term question of doing away with the high embankments was also discussed but would need bigger platform for discussion which the Adda will take up soon. IIT team (unofficially) is going design such a community structure if it gets proper support.
Lack of boats was a common problem all over. Boats have to be designed for the people although the indigenous ones are already there. Funds will have to be mobilized for this purpose. Boat of Hope of Sanjay Hazarika is being taken up with MIT assistance.
The immediate concern was regarding the present system of monitoring by the government. The NGOs can do a better job but there are not too many good NGOs with so much manpower. The Panchayat system should be able to do it but they are kept aside. AASU has been doing some and that has to be promoted.
Another area of immediate concern about livelihood part is that there must be financial assistance for buying seeds, fish fingerlings etc. The government has not been doing much towards it. There are a lot of people who are happy to stay in the relief camps since they are getting free food and these are the Miyas mainly. Politicians' encouragement to do this is also common.
One could use NGOs like ACRD, GVS, Ecosystems India, CYRD, Mulberry TAGS, Atma Nirbhar ek Challenge etc to send funds. These have been doing good work.. One group from ASA Foundation has been in touch with ACRD.
The flood affected people in Hajo have said that they are willing to take loans if grants are not available. If anybody is willing to put in money as a loan, Eastern Himalayan Society would be happy to use through its micro credit fund. Even if a boat could be financed in an area, it will make a lot of difference.
The devastation caused by the floods this year has not been seen by the International media and everybody must make an effort to do his/her bit. Guwahati Adda will take up the issues soon and build more pressure groups.
By Amiya Sharma, Guwahati, Assam.
- Log in to post comments