Flood Relief Updates for 2008

Details of flood relief activities carried out by our group is available at the following link.
http://biharfloodrelief2008.blogspot.com/
Please use this link for more information on what we are doing, what we need and how you can help us in helping more people in flood affected areas.

Details of donations that we received last year and expenditure in last year and this year flood relief operations is mentioned in the spreadsheet link given below. There are multiple sheets, please go through them for details.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pgN0IIAemFflRVQfY5-HJdg&gid=5
In case you need any clarification, please feel free to call me at 09323473603.

Thanks,
Rajiv

Flood Relief Operation : 2008

The leftover amount from last year was 89823.

Majority of the people who donated for flood relief last year want to spend the left over money to this year flood relief work.

We have purchased 150x1000 chlorine tablets from Hind Pharma. The tablets are delivered at Patna and we are in the process of Delivering these tablets to flood affected areas in Forbesganj.

We have ordered for 300x1000 chlorine tablets from Hind Pharma and send the tablets to Chandan who is coordinating flood relief work in Patna.

We also send 25K money to Chandan's account so that he can purchase the items necessary for relief work locally.

chlorine tablets

From: Dr RADHA SHARAN GOSWAMI <goswamibhopal@rediffmail.com>
Date: 19 Aug 2008 16:51:56 -0000
Subject: Chlorine TabletsTo: Rajiv Vidyarthy <rajiv.vidyarthy@gmail.com>

Dear Mr Rajiv
WE HAVE DISPATCHED 150 PACK CHLORINE TABLETS TO PATNAINVOICE NUMBER 69 DATED 18.08.2008 FOR RS 6420

On Sun, 17 Aug 2008 Rajiv Vidyarthy wrote :Dear Dr. Goswami,
It was nice speaking to you. Could you please arrange to send 120 boxes (having 1000 chlorine tablets, ones which we procured last year) to ChandanSingh in Patna. As discussed, you would be charging us rates same as lastyear (Rs 50/box having 1000 chlorine tabs)
His address is
CHANDAN SINGHC/O MR. R.P.SINGHABOVE RIMZIM TEXTILESOPP.POLICE CHOWKMAIN BORING ROADPATNA 800 001
Phone no- 99317 63070

=================================
Hi
Please get them dispatched tomorrow and send me the papers necessary forprocessing the payment.
We will release your payment once we receive theshipment in Patna.
Thanks and Regards,
Rajiv
0-93234 73603
======================================
On Wed, Aug 13, 2008 at 10:51 AM, Rajiv Vidyarthy <rajiv.vidyarthy@gmail.com wrote:
Dear Dr. Goswami,
Hope that you would be doing fine, we wanted to buy some chlorine tablets this year for our flood relief operation in Bihar.
Could you please let us know the availability and rates for the same.
Thanks and Regards,
Rajiv

Rajiv,

I have received the amount, details below;

625905034454
13-Aug-2008
13-08-2008

BIL/000071440601/Flood Relief 2008/NSP
0.00
25000.00
POWAI MUMBAI I will be meeting with UNDP's guidelines/suggestions on distribution of prescription medicine. This ia apart from what we are distributing for water purification.

~chandan

Updates on 12th Aug

Saturday 9th aug; I had discussions with NGO coordinators in Muzaffarpur; the flood situation was classified as normal with lookout warning in 3 blocks; Katra, Aurai and Gaighat. However, yesterday evening, I got a call that the flood situation has worsened in Aurai block and about 1200 families have moved on the embankment, taking shelter there. There has been rainfall and rise in Nepal fed rivers. As of now,these panchayats are affected;about 1500 families, mainly in Aurai block: Vishnupur Basant,Bharathua,Amnaur,JanarthSarhachiya,AmanaurPitojhiaBenipur.I suggest we start our flood relief effort now.
We will need water purification tablets ( chlorene tabs) , ORS, anti fungal creme, paracetamol/analgesics, cough & cold medication, salt, candles, matchboxes...and other materials depending upon the ground condition. We will start with ORS sachets & bleaching powder immediately and they can be procured locally. Order can be placed for chlorine tablets either from Bhopal/ Mumbai/Calcutta. The chlorine tablets that Tanya ji sent last year are of better quality than the ones we got from Bhopal. Kindly let me know your suggestions on this years Flood Relief Op(FRO) The apparent good news is that the intensity of floods will not be as bad as last year.
thanks,
chandan

Share your opinion on usage of left over amount for Flood Relief

Requesting you to circulate it among the donors you know. Thanks, Rajiv



Dear Friends,


For usage of remaining funds, we are conducting a poll. Please let us know your opinion by accessing the following link.


http://www.esurveyspro.com/Survey.aspx?id=a6171aca-706a-4704-a201-31c7c4772527


It will take less than a minute to complete, please let us know your opinion. The poll would be open till 31st December, 2007.



Thanks and best regards,

Rajiv


our blog http://biharfloodrelief.blogspot.com


The financial details avaiilable at - http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pgN0IIAemFflRVQfY5-HJdg&gid=0

Status of funds

Friends, Please forward it to the personal email ids of donors you know. - Rajiv
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Friends,

Apologies for the delay in posting the financial updates related to the flood relief. Also thanks for your overwhelming support for the project, without your support it would not have been possible to provide any relief.


We have been able to make good use of the money, and provided relief wherever we could. Details of our project are available on our blog http://biharfloodrelief.blogspot.com


The financial details are avaiilable at the following link, a brief summary is posted below for your convenience

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pgN0IIAemFflRVQfY5-HJdg&gid=0


Total funds raised - Rs. 191208/-

Total Expenditure - Rs. 70,476/-

[Medicines - Rs. 53,194/- and other exp. (transport,courier, local help etc) - Rs. 17,282]


Amount available with us - Rs. 120,732/-


In addition to monetary support, we also recieved polythene rolls from Sri M K Verma and Our first consignment to chandan (medicines like chlorine, paracetramol, Ciprofloxacin, Metronidazole etc) was donated by Tanya ji.


Please mail me if you need any clarifications. Usage of the remaining fund is being discussed in the group, we are open to your suggestions. Please contact us at rajiv.vidyarthy@gmail.com.


Thanks and best Regards,
Rajiv

Images : Flood Relief

Images : Flood Relief

Our distribution network is getting better

Folks,

Today we distributed relief materials at Jamalabad in Muzaffarpur district. The population is about 10000 with 2200 households.

These people were totally cut off till two bays back..but are accessible now.

We distributed about 400 ORS,10000 chlorine tabs and 200-250 paracetamol.

We are now making packets of medicines and hence more ppl are able to get the materials.

Regarding medicines,

This is what we need-

paracetamol 1000

spasmonil 1000

ORS 1000+

B complex 1000

entroquinol 500

domperidon 500

cetzin 500

cough syrup (anti-tissuitive/anti allergic) 1000

I can procure them directly from regional distributor, and they will cost 50-70 % of MRP, depending upon the manufacturing company.

If we get them cheaper frm Mumbai /Bhopal; we can have it frm thre.

Otherwise suggest that they be procured locally.

Spurious drugs ruled out.Batch no will be validated and signed by the distributor.

If we have a VAT no, then 3% tax can also be saved.

Payment can be made directly to supplier, either by cheque or online transfer.

May need to pay advance.

Attaching some pictures.

Each passing day our distribution network is getting better. Today we were distributing at two places..and it really was a nice feeling to see things falling into place.

We are doing great work guys, and we are getting lots n lots of good wishes from the beneficiaries.

There wz more rain in Nepal since yesterday night.. so possibly another surge in water level likely.

You tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oe6i4xN0HGw

cheers,

chandan

--
Chandan Singh
Executive Director
GreenPower India

Images : Flood Relief

Images : Flood Relief

Inventory position as on 2nd sept

The inventory position as on 2nd sept.

Received;

1. Chlorine tabs; 6 laks
2. Paracetamol; 1000tabs
3. Antibiotics: 1000 tabs
   
4. Anti diarrhea:1000 tabs
5. Bandages
   
6. Cotton.
7. Bentadine
8. Polythene sheets (donated locally)
9. ORS1000(bought locally)

Distributed :

1. Chlorine tabs;4.9 lakh 2lakh(Gaighat)+60k(Katra)+70k (Bhagalpur)+90k(Madhubani)+70k (personally

distributed yesterday and today)

1. Paracetamol; Around 500
2. Antibiotics(1000); Around 300
   
3. Anti diarrhea tabs;All@Block Hospital, Gaighat
   
4. Bandages; With me
   
5. Cotton: With Me
   
6. Bentadine: Being distributed in small bottles
   
7. Polythene sheets (donated locally); 4rolls(Gaighat); 3 rolls(Bhagalpur)7 rolls
   
8. ORS1000(bought locally); Around 700 distributed yesterday and today
   

Bulk medicines brought locally;
ORS 1000 sachets; Rs.5500.
21.8gm
Lupin
MRP 120 for 10
Batch L-4009
mfg dt; June 2007
Exp dt; June 2010

We are doing very well....its been a wonderful team effort.

Then and now.

NASA :Flooding in Eastern India

Large Images:
August 22, 2007 (3.29 MB JPG)
June 4, 2007 (1.68 MB JPG)

Though the floods were receding, water still covered much of the Ganges Plain on August 22, 2007, when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite captured the top image. The Ganges and its tributaries swell every summer with melting snow from the Himalaya Mountains and persistent rains from the Southwest Asian Monsoon, but 2007 produced larger floods than most other years. As of August 22, the unusually heavy monsoon had killed 2,106 people throughout India as a result of drowning, structure collapse, waterborne disease, or snakebite, said the Government of India. The worst-hit region was the northern state of Bihar, where 18 million people were hit by flooding when the Ganges and its tributaries overflowed, according to a Deutsche Presse Agentur report issued on August 22.

The top image provides an unusually clear view of the Bihar region in a combination of visible and infrared light. The few clouds (pale blue and white) that clutter the scene are small. Water, ranging in color from light blue to black, flows across much of the landscape. Places where the water is muddy or shallow are lighter in color. Reflected sunlight also lightens the color of the water along the right edge of the image. The areas that aren’t covered in water are bright green with vegetation. Before the monsoon rains started, the land was sparsely vegetated, as shown by the tan-pink color of the lower image. As the top image shows, a large portion of the state remained underwater. Nearly one million hectares of arable land flooded in Bihar, reported Reuters on August 22.

The last image shows the river system in North Bihar

Flood updates

Folks,

Had not been able to update you all for last four days or so, but had been mostly on road.

Well, the situation of the flood is grim. And, unfortunately, it may be so for another four-five weeks.

We have been able to continue our operations in Muzaffarpur and Madhubani districts.Samastipur is a bit of problem as of now.

We have had really difficult time traveling these five days or so.

The CM had announced 1 quintal of grain to be distributed to all the victims. Next thing
we know that there are thousands of ppl on the road, demanding their share of
free sops.

It’s been horrible since then. How can any machinery deliver close to 50-60000 quintals
in every block of the affected area in a single day? So, we are having sporadic violent distributations,
some vehicles are being forcibly relieved of food grains and there is huge problem for of normal movement of vehicles.The government is reluctant to use force. Every where, some one or the other is blocking the highway…I
hope this trend peters out, as it is putting more strain on an already overburdened distribution mechanism.

It took me 11hrs to reach madhubani 3 days back.

7 traffic jams..ranging from 30 minutes to 150 minutes. And u cant go back..cause u r
truly stuck in 2-3 Km long motorcade.

Yesterday, while on way to Gaighat, I picked up Mr Sudhanshu(C.O, Gaighat) from zero mile
near Muz’pur as his vehicle had broken down.

Mr.Sudhanshu,me and doc.

It took us almost three hours(34 KM) to reach Gaighat..huge traffic jam was at some place
15 Km before Gaighat. Cause ? The villagers wanted their one quintal of grain,& because the stock had not come to their block, they were making themself “visible” to the forces that are.

Buses, trucks,private vehicles …all crammed on the highway. People were suggesting that the
flood victims should catch hold of the DM, BDO, CO and force them to get the
grains…why should they block the highway..it was affecting common people ?

So true na ? I seen ladies who were really uncomfortable, no place to go for natures call,
stuk for more than 3 hours..children crying, infants dint have water or milk,
old ppl were tired… everyone suffered suffered suffered.

And the CO was with us, I could see the pain and the resignation on his face. Has someone
recognized him, it would have been really sad. as the mob would have turned to
turn on him to “teach’ him a lesion.

No, he just behaved as most of his professional colleagues do. Lack of planning?
Coordination problem? What and Why?

When we reached Gaighat, there were thousands of ppl outside his office..

Circle office

I was in his office for close to 2 hrs. Heard all stuff ppl talk to him. Felt bad...because
of lack of compassion some local chiefs displayed.

One mukhiya thundered..”Road block karma mera fundamental right hai..a hum karbe karenge,
jabtak huko hamara anaaj nahi nilta hai.’’” Koiyo bheekh nahi maanh rahe hain..
jo hak hai wahi maang rahe hain…nahi milega ta cheen lenge” Very thin
line between "haq" and "bheekh". Nothing called 'relief' works for this chap.

C.O & D.H.O

When I asked whether he thought how the people travelling through this area are suffering,
spl. women n children …pat came the reply ..”kono tourist spot hai, kee ghumane aate
hain” “Ghare rahiyae”

Moron.

Thankfully these are aberrations, not the rule.

We have distributed 2 lak 60 thousand chlorine tablets in Gaighat and Katra Block, 1000 anti biotic
tablets, Paracetimol and other otc drugs like nimusulide, zintac etc.

60000 chlorine tabs have been given to Dr.Ravi(Bhagalpur relief)

I have procured 1000 sachets of ORS (21 gms) at Rs.5.40 a pc (distributors price) locally.

I am now going inside the villages. half mile walk in waist- neck deep water. Last time they
took me on a water buffalo. Felt real bad for the animal. So will be walking/
swimming thre from now on. There are three villages in that cluster.Hav given them
some medicines, torch, mosquito coil and chlorine tabs. Maybe will take
some pix nxt time. Dint carry any electronic equipment in these unpredictable
waters.

Would be mom :),
she is carrying a baby..

They have had two snake bite deaths last week, one being a young girl, recently married.She
got bitten around 2 in night and dint wake her in laws because of ‘lihaj’

Morning they brought her to sadar hospital,gaighat n was referred to DMCH.. she
died .Most deaths from snakebite is because there is no transportation (boat) from back country
villages.

Prevention is
better than cure

Samastipur is totally cut off. Hajipur –Samastipur highway is under water. Muzaffarpur Samastipur highway is still breached.

I hope there is better coordination between different sections of govt. machinery. This is a logistical
nightmare..distribution of relief material, and if not executed in an efficient mechanized
manner... whatever chances the ‘real’ flood victims had of getting help will diminish. Its more of ‘jiski laathi uski
bhains’ now. And poor underfed victims don’t carry lathis. They can hardly walk..let
alone demonstrate and block traffic.I hope this equation changes fast..am sure it will.

This is our
Bihar, and we can’t give up. We have to keep chugging n pushing forward. We
have to keep going. We are making a bit of difference. Focus and intensity is the key.

Touchwood.

Billy (&) the kid ! Lost everything..no worries..life goes on !

These kids rock !!

''Then let not what I cannot have, my cheer of mind destroy,

while I sing..I am the King, though a poor, little blind boy "

Pix of the 17 cartons of cl.tabs received from Bhopal

Some pix, taken at the Circle office, Gaighat

Some pix, taken at the Circle office, Gaighat

pic 1; R-L; Mr.Sudhanshu Kr Chowbey, Circle Officer,Gaighat Block

Dr.Raj Kishore Rai, Block Health officer, Dr.P.S.P Gupta, Surendra Prasad Singh( Block agricultural officer)

Bihar flood video on youtube

Have uploaded a video of flood relief op. under taken by Bihar Developement Trust(BDT), Bhagalpur

This video has been recorded by BDT, and gives u a glimpse of what is the ground situation.

Pretty grim ,really.

Thank you Dev Ji and Dr.Ravi.

This is the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09vChSx-Hq8

Updates from Chandan

Folks

A better day today, much better :)

The water level has gone down in Benibaad and Gaighat block (the area where the highway breach had occurred) , its good sunshine for almost two days now and things are looking much better.

State government machinery is now working well to deliver food grains and other relief materials to flood victims. This is something that really amazes me..I mean the kind of delivery mechanism the government has; in two days flat, meetings are held, priorities fixed and relief materials delivered. The best NGO's would struggle to keep up with this pace. It feels so good.

The problem this year was the timing. When the S.O.S came, the government machinery just stood transfixed, as if paralyzed. Why ?

Is it because the hierarchical chain of command is non functional/ unreliable, or because its not practical. Don't know, but they better figure out a system in which major decisions during a natural calamity is not person centric or post centric, and command centered in Patna. They should have been localized to panchayat, block and district level. The person in charge on the ground is in best position to judge the scale of calamity and take appropriate action.

Example to cite is the efficiency in which the DM took charge in Badhaiya embankment breach last week or 10 days back. He was there within 30 minutes of the embankment breach,and personally evacuating persons trapped there. The result; the buzz spread around, and army choppers were there within 2 hours of the breach. Some 100000 live stock are taking shelter now in the neighboring districts.What would have been the reaction time, if the DM was not present. Would the decision making capability of ADM or person in charge be clouded by the fact that DM is not there and he would accountable for any thing that goes wrong. You know, Gautan Gauswamy episode is not entirely forgotten. These things play on your mind.

In Muzaffarpur district, I.P.S officer, Ratna Sanjay, took charge immediately as flood waters started breaching in. He is working 24x7 since then to provide relief to the victims. He takes relief material to the most inaccessible comers of affected area..he has worked the whole unit up as a really well oiled state mechanism. The policing in Muz'pur district has been excellent.
And you go there and ask any person about this gentleman, and you hear them talk about him in very high regard.This is what we need.And may his tribe increase in our state.

Coming back to the current situation, the water level is receding. That means rotting vegetation,carcasses,human n animal excrete and lots of other rotting organic waste will be concentrated in a smaller area, and will be exposed to heat and humidity. Ideal conditions for diarrhea, cholera and other water borne diseases.

We have our work cut out. Chlorine tablets, ORS/ anti diarrhea medication. We are continuing to do so.

It was also a pleasant surprise for me when Mr.Ramnathan Anand (www. ifaw.org) called up at 2.00AM yesterday from Mexico and informed that IFAW(International Fund For Animal Welfare) will be helping us to get fodder/medications/vaccinations for the affected livestock and stray animals,stranded and suffering because of the flood.

Personally I feel this is a very positive step towards putting our State on the International animal welfare radar. These guys are helping thousands of animals in distress throughout the world, and hence I had approached them through WTI to help us in Bihar. They accepted. This is a start, and also an indicator that there are donors who want to help us, but we have to approach them and put our case honestly.

Tomorrow, Dr.Ravi and Mr.Sanjay( Mr.Mishra's recommended volunteer) will take chlorine tablets to be distributed in their respective areas.Day after, I start working in Madhubani district.

cheers,
chandan.

Acknowledgement from C.O, gaighat

This is an acknowledgement for what C.O, gaighat received,

he has also given a signed, stamped acknowledgement of the same, which I will have to scan and post.

dr.ravi has already ackowledged what he received.

Btw them they hav 96000 cl. tablets and 7bundles of polythene

i hav a bundle of polythene and 4000 tabs + all the sechdule H medicines Tanya sent

this wraps up the first lot.

Second lot( 18 cartons) is still packed.

Kindly advice who these should be distributed to.

cheers,

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: sudhanshu2kr < >
Date: Aug 17, 2007 8:33 PM
Subject: Cool Bihari Flood Victims of gaighat Block
To:

Dear Friends
Thanks to you all for all efforts you made and your sensiblities shown
towards flood victims of Bihar . In Gaighat Block I received relief
materials from your contributions so far are as follws :-
Chlorine Tablets :- 86000
Polythene Sheets :- 4 Bundle
Match Box - One Cartoon
Edible Salt - One Quintal
candle - One bag
All these materials are being distributed to Flood Victims of the
Block Through panchayat Level Officials Like Panchayat Sewaks , Halka
Karmacharis , ANM and all these people are doing there best So that
all these relief materials to go to right hands.
My Sincere Thanks to Mr. Chandan who So far has done a great job
for flood victims of Bihar. His endeavour and efforts are highly
appreciable. Persons Like Mr. Chandan are ray of hopes for the poor
people of Bihar.
Apart from these we have started getting sufficient relief
materials from our Government side also.We are disributing around
45000 Quintal of Grains , One Quintal for each faimily of the
Blocks.We have distributed around 3000 pieces of Polythenes to the
Displaced People.Although continuous rains are creating so many
hurdles , But our official teams , Panchayat Representatives, even
Police personnels are doing great Job with high Spirit.

Once again thanks to you all and hope that sentiments shown by you for
Bihar will not slow down.

Sudhanshu

--
Chandan Singh
Executive Director
GreenPower India