By: Dr. Mumtaz Naiyer, Post Doc Fellow, UK...!! KISHANGANJ/SEEMANCHAL/BIHAR FLOODS 2016 !!
Past one week was dreadful for me. The reason was floods back home, my district Kishanganj in the state of Bihar, India was the worst affected. Every morning I would search Facebook for the updates. Even mobile phones back home were switched off or unreachable. Sometime I would search google news.
To my great dismay both print and electronic media failed to report such devastating news affecting 2 million people in Kishanganj and adjoining districts of Bihar and West Bengal. I just found one piece of news in Indian Express reported by Wali Ahmad. This shows how this region has been neglected and of least importance to media, state and central govt.
Nevertheless report of late aerial survey of the flood affected areas by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar was reported in some news portals.
“Seeing is believing” and from the photos we can see administration did not play any role in rescue and relief and even if it did it was at miniscule level. There were no life boats etc. State govt. is/was never prepared for such Natural calamities. 80% of the houses in this region are made of mud walls. The region remains poor because of indifferent attitude of govt., wrong policies and complicated bureaucracy.
I am quite frustrated with the response of Bihar govt. They did not declare any special package; neither had they held any cabinet meeting to discuss the issue. The crops (Jute, paddy, Ginger etc.) have been damaged badly. The time ahead is full of challenges for the local farmers/peasants. They have lost everything their houses, crops and means of livelihood.
Although the estimate of loss has not been reported yet, it might be several hundred crores. Govt. must waive the loans of farmers without any delay. Ex gratia MUST be provided to the affected families as per the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) norms. Bihar govt. must persuade Central govt. to release funds under Prime Minister Disaster relief fund.
The most worrying part is the health issue of the residents of those areas affected by floods. After the rainy season myriads of infectious diseases come in the form of epidemic. Govt. must alert health department to tackle any unforeseen health crisis because of the floods and rains.
I am deeply concerned about the plight and pathetic conditions of my people affected by flood, hope administration, local politicians and activists will work in tandem to ease their pain and miseries.
Thanks!
Dr. Mumtaz Naiyer
Southampton, UK
#Kishanganj, #BiharFloods , #NitishKumar, #Seemanchal , #CMOBihar #PMOIndia
Past one week was dreadful for me. The reason was floods back home, my district Kishanganj in the state of Bihar, India was the worst affected. Every morning I would search Facebook for the updates. Even mobile phones back home were switched off or unreachable. Sometime I would search google news.
To my great dismay both print and electronic media failed to report such devastating news affecting 2 million people in Kishanganj and adjoining districts of Bihar and West Bengal. I just found one piece of news in Indian Express reported by Wali Ahmad. This shows how this region has been neglected and of least importance to media, state and central govt.
Nevertheless report of late aerial survey of the flood affected areas by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar was reported in some news portals.
“Seeing is believing” and from the photos we can see administration did not play any role in rescue and relief and even if it did it was at miniscule level. There were no life boats etc. State govt. is/was never prepared for such Natural calamities. 80% of the houses in this region are made of mud walls. The region remains poor because of indifferent attitude of govt., wrong policies and complicated bureaucracy.
I am quite frustrated with the response of Bihar govt. They did not declare any special package; neither had they held any cabinet meeting to discuss the issue. The crops (Jute, paddy, Ginger etc.) have been damaged badly. The time ahead is full of challenges for the local farmers/peasants. They have lost everything their houses, crops and means of livelihood.
Although the estimate of loss has not been reported yet, it might be several hundred crores. Govt. must waive the loans of farmers without any delay. Ex gratia MUST be provided to the affected families as per the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) norms. Bihar govt. must persuade Central govt. to release funds under Prime Minister Disaster relief fund.
The most worrying part is the health issue of the residents of those areas affected by floods. After the rainy season myriads of infectious diseases come in the form of epidemic. Govt. must alert health department to tackle any unforeseen health crisis because of the floods and rains.
I am deeply concerned about the plight and pathetic conditions of my people affected by flood, hope administration, local politicians and activists will work in tandem to ease their pain and miseries.
Thanks!
Dr. Mumtaz Naiyer
Southampton, UK
#Kishanganj, #BiharFloods , #NitishKumar, #Seemanchal , #CMOBihar #PMOIndia
