Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Team 6 reaches Saharsa on 13th

Team 6 reached Saharsa base camp on 13th October 2008 under the leadership of Mr. Vinod Koshti, Department of Social Work, University of Delhi. The team comprised of 10 members – Mr. Jeet Sankalp, Mr. Amarjeet, Ms. Anjali, Ms. Nazia, Ms. Priyanka and Ms. Suchi from Department of Social Work, and Mr. Aashish Kumar, Mr. Amjad Khan, Mr. Pratap Singh and Mr. Rajan from B R Ambedkar College. The team took along with them 126 big sacks of relief materials which include clothes, biscuits, medicines, ORS, bedsheets and towels.

खास लोग, आम लोग

कुछ लोग खास होते हैं तो कुछ आम ।
कुछ खास होते हैं उनके जन्म, भाग्य और परिवार से ।
कुछ खास हो जाते हैं उनके कर्म, सोच और विचार से।
ऐसे ही एक आम शख्स को मैंने खास होते देखा हैं ।
मैंने एक इंसान को, सच में इंसान देखा हैं ।
सुनामी, भूकंप, सुखा, बाढ़ ये भी रंग हैं कुदरत के।
महज़ फूल ही नहीं खारे भी हैं बेशुमार इसके दामन में।
मैंने लोगों को मौत से लड़ते झगड़ते देखा हैं
मैंने बिहार को कोसी झूझते देखा हैं।
जब आम इंसान घिर गए पानी से।
तो खेल शुरु हुआ मौत , लाश और मातम का।
हज़ारो घर टूटे लाखो लोग तबाह हुए।
कितने लोग रहे? जो रहे कब तक रहे? मालूम नहीं!
आम लोग मरते रहे, खपते रहे, बिलखते रहे, पर क्या हासील!
कुछ लोग जो खास होते हैं जन्म, भाग्य और परिवार से वो मौन रहे।
देखते रहे भद्दा तमाशा मौत, मातम और मसीहाई का।
पर एक शख्स और चंद लोग जो आम होकर भी आम न रहे ।
वो उठे, बढे, वो चले एक सहारा बनने।
एक छोटा सा सहारा ही, मगर हैं तो सही!
लोग जुड़ते गए और चंद लोग 'हम' बन गए।
फ़िर सिलसिला शुरू हुआ लोगो की लोटती मुस्कान का।
घर बने, तन ढके, भूख मिटि, रोग कटे और सबसे खासम- खास कुछ अपने मिले।
डबडबाती आखों में खुशी, सूखे- फीके होठो पे मुस्कान , दिल में अहसास अपने पन का देकर,
हम लोग और वो शख्स जो आम दिखता था ,
सब मिसाल बन गए ज़माने के लिए ।
हम आम लोग खास बन गए ज़माने के लिए...
हम आम लोग खास बन गए ज़माने के लिए ...


--
अजय सैनी
Ajay Saini, M.A (P)
Department of Social Work
University of Delhi

NEWS REPORT by SAHARA NCR TV

UDAI Progress -a visual presentation

कुछ चूल्हे जले हैं कुछ को जलाना है, दिल्ली विश्वविद्यालय के प्रयास को आगे बढ़ाना है

A Visit Report by Sh. Shyam Pandey from Qatar - on the bank of Bhutahi Baandh
Views of our visitor from Saat samunder paar

It was an unique experience to get associated with the Delhi University team and visit the site to meet the flood victims and boost the morale of the volunteers.
I travelled all the way from Doha -Mumbai-Delhi-Patna-Saharsa to join the team. Saharsa is the base camp for all voluntary organisations. I was carrying 4 cartons containing baby food ( Lactogen) and Torches. In fact these items were suggested by Dr. Manoj Jha before the start of my journey. This is an good advice to all philanthropists visiting the relief camp to get prior information of the items immediately needed. I have seen people travel with loads of material which are either in surplus or do not have immediate requirement. A typical example was the over supply of blankets in the month of September/October.
It was the Dashehra when I spent my day with children of Hamari Pathshala and the patients at Hmara Aspatal - excellent piece of idea of DU. We distributed sweets among the children and celebrated the festival. It was a memorable occasion as some of the parents who were watching us could not control themselves. One can imagine the people staying on the bank of canal for last one and half month after loosing every thing and suddenly some one is reminding them of their festival. It was the wonderful efforts of Delhi University who brought solace to the children and their family. I would like to share the photo of the smiling faces of the children.
I had spend and discussed with the other flood victims and found some interesting things. There was no food shortage due to voluntary organizations and government supply. I have not heard any news of epidemic. Water was still flowing but soon the situation will change and the stagnant water would cause real concern. Winter is on next door, therefore government must do to shift them in some megacamps till their houses are built up. Till that time the job of relief work must go uninterrupted. I met couple of students of class 10 and 12 who are scheduled to appear final examination in March 09. Their fate are still unknown.
I extend my sincere thanks to Professor Sanjai Bhatt for his project UDAI-II and wish him great success for the noble cause of serving community.

Finally I conclude with the saying

कुछ चूल्हे जले हैं
कुछ को जलाना है,
दिल्ली विश्वविद्यालय के प्रयास को
आगे बढ़ाना है


Shyam Pandey
Doha Qatar

Saturday, October 11, 2008

बांस बोला

मैं हूँ बांस, बांस हूँ मैं ।
बांस - एक कच्चा, खोखला, व्यर्थ नाम तुम्हारे लिए ।
बांसवारी में उगता, फिर बिकता भाव कौडियों के ।
देवदार, साल, शीशम से आँका जाता, वो बताते मुझको मेरी औकात ।
हरदम कम समझा जाता 'थोथा' मेरा नाम बजता ।
पर अब मान है होता इस थोथेपन पे मुझे ।
मैं थोथा बन्सू लोगो के देखो क्या काम आया ।


जब आई बाढ़ बिहार में , डूबे शहर बस्ती गाँव ।
बेघर हुए घर वाले, टूटे सपने, छूटे अपने, छुटे मुहँ के निवाले ।
फसलें, इंसां, मवेशी, पक्षी, समा गए सब जल थल में ।
कभी न देखा न सुना था ऐसा मंजर गज़ब का कहर ढा गई कोसी ।
जब लोग थे बेघर, हताश, आश्रयहीन, और व्याकुल
तो में थोथा बन्सू कटा और बना आश्रय उनके लिए ।
भूख से बिलखते मवेशियों को पाला मैंने पत्तों से अपने
मैं कटा, चीरा, मिटा लोगों के लिए ।
मुझसे बाँध, नौका, पलंग, मचान, और नीढ बने इंसानों के
अब भूतही, जीरवा - देवदार, साल, शीशम को उनकी औकात बताते हैं ।
महिमा मेरी देख देख सब विस्मित रह जाते हैं ।
और आज मैं जब बने घर, झूलते बाँध, चलते नौका, पलते मवेशी और इंसा पता हूँ ।

सच कहूँ तो खुशी से 'थोथा बन्सू' मैं झूम झूम इतराता हूँ ।
अजय सैनी

This poem is written by Mr. Ajay Saini, M.A. (Previous) who went to Saharsa with Team 4 of DSW and worked there for 17 days

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Team 5 of DSW reaches Saharsa on 7th September 2008

Dr. Atul Pratap Singh of B R Ambedkar College, University of Delhi, is leading the team 5 which reached Saharsa with medical and other reinforcements for the school and hospital run by the Department volunteers. The members include Mr. Zaheer Ahmad, Ms. Mayuri Kakoti, Ms. Nida Siddiqui, Ms. Prabhleen, Ms. Mali Devi and Ms. Preeti from Department of Social Work, University and Mr. Azeem, Mr. Junaid, Mr. Ovais and Mr. Pratibh from B R Ambedkar College and Ashish Kumar and Mr. Chandra Bhusan from the Department of Politcal Science, University of Delhi. The members will work along with Team 4 for a couple of days before taking over from them.

Smiles Break Out

Hindustan Times, 30th September 2008

Smiles Break Out on the faces of children as they sing a nationalist song at an informal class run by volunteers of Delhi University's School of Social Work attempting to recreate a sense of normalcy at a settlement which is a home to 20,000 flood refugees. Lakhs of children are out of school since families fled villages, government schools have morphed into refugee camps, and education is badly hit. - Hindustan Times, 30th September 2008

Disaster in Bihar: A Report from TISS Assessment Team

This report is prepared on the basis of a 5-day visit to the flood affected parts of Bihar by a four-member team from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. The team visited three districts of Saharsa, Supaul and Madhepura during the period September 3 to 7, 2008. The TISS team was initially based in Saharsa for data collection purposes and moved from there to nearby districts. The team worked in collaboration with a team of faculty and students from the Delhi School of Social Work, Delhi University. Some of the data presented in this report is therefore, based on the shared data from both the institutions.

RCH Intervention at Bhutahi Baandh

Team 4 started its operations with an extensive training on Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Care focussing on the victims of the flood affected area. Two team members Ms. Abhishweta and Sister Teresa went to the interiors of the community at the Bhutahi Baandh and identified around 18-20 pregnant women for intervention. A group of the pregnant women was formed and a RCH awareness programme was started in "Humari Paathshaala" in the afternoon.
Team 4 has started intensive intervention on maternal health issues identifying the fact that the pregnant women and lactating mothers are the most vulnerable section among the flood affected population. After an initial effort and using the skills of community mobilisation a group of 15 women cadre has also been formed to take this RCH initiative further. "The team recieved immense local support from all corners and the initiative was widely appreciated by everyone" says team leader, Dr. Shahid from B R Ambedkar College, University of Delhi.

Eid Celebrated at Saharsa by Team 4

Update from the field: 02 October 2008

On the festive occasion of Eid, the Team 4 of Department of Social Work distributed specially made packets to the flood victims at Saharsa Urdu Madhyamik Vidyalaya. These packets contained eatables and clothes which was distributed on the last iftaar before Eid. The team also celebrated Eid with the flood affected families in their intervention area.

New Spot identified for further relief operations

Jirwa Morh, Saharsa was identified by the Team 4 as a new spot for further relief operations. The place is 35 kilometers from Sharasa Base Camp of UDAI-II. Till date this place has received no relief from any agency and is equally affected with flood. The team is in the process of preparing a strategy plan for the area.

As things get tough, the tough get going...

Update from the field: 30th September 2008

There was heavy storm and thunder to add on to the plight of the flood victims of Bihar. Since morning the team was contemplating whether to go to the site or not as the adverse weather condition had blocked all the practical ways to reach the site. Finally a small team was sent under the leadership of Mr. Aditya Choubey. The team took with them tarpaulin sheets and emergency medicines and reached Bhutahi Baandh with great difficulties. On reaching the site at Bhutahi Baandh it was found that no other agency had gone there for relief in the entire stretch. The local people were eagerly waiting for our team and seeing our volunteers they shouted with joy and felt relieved. The team distributed tarpaulin sheets and medicines to the most needy. The condition was so worse there that one tarpaulin sheet was shared by atleast 50 affected persons. Those people had no clothes to wear as all their clothes got drenched in rain. Targetted intervention was required as the team was short of the relief materials at that time. The team had some cotton towels (gamchha) with them. Those were given to the new born babies. Next day the team went all prepared to distribute the relief materials to the identified families.

Amity Students collaborated with Team 4 at Saharsa

Students from Amity reached Saharsa with a bus load of relief materials. They joined our Team 4 and worked for a day at Bhutahi Baandh. After visiting all our intervetion areas they decided to hand over all their relief materials for distribution to us. They were highly satisfied with our acceptance in the community. Amity students have assured the team 4 for further collaboration with project UDAI-II in Delhi.

Team 4 Reaches Saharsa on 24th September 2008

A highly energetic and dedicated team of volunteers under the leadership of Dr. Md. Shahid reached Saharsa on 24th September 2008. The team included Mr. Aditya Kumar, Ms. Abhishweta, Sister Teresa, Ms. Malvika, Ms. Tanya Jain, Mr. Ajay Saini, and Mr. Sanjay Kumar Bharti from Department of Social Work, University of Delhi and Mr. Kumar Satyam, Mr. Kaustav Ranjan, and Mr. Abhishek Tiwari from B R Ambedkar College, University of Delhi. The Team immediately upon reaching base camp did an extensive training on components of Reproductive and Child Health for the volunteers.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Songs from the Field

Songs sung by the students of

Humari Paathshaala

Field Activities of Team 3

Team 3 reached Saharsa on 17th September and highly motivated by the activities of the previous teams started field action from the next day. Team members did rapid assessment of the work done so far by the department and based on PRA (Participatory Rural Appraisal) Techniques they undertook resource mapping of the area. The team adapting to the changing needs precipitated by the change in water levels introduced new modules of learning in the school - "Humari Paathshaala" - run by the DSW volunteers. The new modules focussed on the awareness component and along with basic education incorporated information on hazards of flood water and water-borne diseases. This was an attempt in response to the outbreaks of diarrohea and enteric fever from many parts of the flood affected areas due to the drinking of flood water.
To strengthen the ongoing medical intervention the team operationalised mobile medical unit and it is responding to emergencies in Madhepura and Supaul districts.
The networking component was focussed upon and the team along with Prof. Sanjai Bhatt and Dr. Manoj K Jha participated in the NGO coordination meeting called by the District Magistrate of Saharsa. The district administration praised the work of DSW and asked the Department to come up with proposals for
  • damage assessment of the affected flood relief areas
  • psycho-social counselling of the victims
  • formation of the federation of the organisations working in the area