Bhubaneswar: FANI was the strongest tropical cyclone which struck the entire coastal districts of Indian state of Odisha on 2nd May,2019 as a high-end extremely severe cyclonic storm. This was the equivalent of a high-end Category 4 major hurricane.
It mostly affected with a wind speed of 240 Km/hr. the coastal areas like Puri, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack when it moved eastwards to West Bengal.
It severely affected the houses and trees and whatever came on its way. Though as per the Government data, the causalities post effect FANI, was only 64, the actual figure would be much more which left its mark with high destruction of infrastructures.
About the Village Kandalei
Kandalei Village, in the Jatani Block of Khurda District of Odisha close to the declared Elephant sanctuary, about 20 KM from the Proposed smart city of Bhubaneswar in Odisha was severely affected. There is no proper road to reach the village. So one has to walk in the dense forest to reach the villagers.
The villagers sustain their livelihood on small agriculture or to sale the forest wood and forest products in the markets about 6 km from the village. The children of the village seldom went to the school as the nearby government school was 7 km away one side. The villagers were bereft of basic health & education and other facilities till ASSRA team in Odisha discovered this village in 2014 where 36 families lived there since 1962. The Govt. aid was day dream to them as no facilities reached them. They had never even seen their national flag even after so many years of independence. As they are not primitive tribes they are also devoid of any government facilities etc.
The entire kuccha/thatched houses made up of Bamboo & Mud belonging to 36 odd families were brought to the ground on 2nd May,2019.
About ASSRA (www.assra4u.org)
ASSRA is an organisation formed by us in 2001, located in the village and started working for welfare of the village since 2014. A hall was constructed by me from my consultancy income in 2016 and was handed over to the District Education Authority of Khurda District to be used as School for the local children. The hall having a partition wall in between was best accommodation not only for School but a place where these villagers shared their joys and sorrows on several occasions. With lots of difficulty and persuasion we got the electricity connected to the village in January, 2019. ASSRA imparted various vocational trainings to the villagers to earn their livelihood. ASSRA took care of health issues by linking them to government hospitals and conducting health camps.
Due to this sudden natural disaster FANI Cyclone, the whole village belonging to these 36 families have fallen to the ground. The homeless villagers are forced to sit on streets and spending their day without water and electricity. The school which was built after lots of efforts for students in the jungle has also been badly damaged.
ASSRA led by Social activist, CA Subhajit Sahoo is trying its best to reach out to our friends and relatives to raise funds to rebuild the school and provide some low cost housing materials to the villagers so that they can start to re-establish themselves. The State Government has provided Rs.2500/- per household and a plastic sheet as the relief which is nothing against the damages caused.
The villagers still have their faith in ASSRA, and we are in serious need of fund to rehabilitate them.
Work Done post FANI
Health Camp
A Health Camp was organised on 25th May, 2019. Though no Doctor from Govt. Hospitals was willing to come to our aid, a Doctor with a mind set for social work, Dr. Jiban Krishna Mishra came forward, accompanied us to the village and conducted health check up of all the inhabitants sitting under torching heat. He prescribed Medicines to the needy inhabitants.
Distribution of Medicine
Based on the prescription of the physician, we purchased the required drugs and distributed among the inhabitants on the next day.
Distribution of Food Stuffs
As the villagers had no money left with them and had been starving, we purchased some food stuffs and distributed among them.
Distribution of Cloths
As excepting the worn cloths, no second set were left with the villagers, mostly ladies we distributes some cloth among them.
Distribution of Seeds for Kitchen Garden
The ladies folk were motivated to start kitchen gardening for themselves and the entire families were provided with seeds to start with. This created encouragement among the entire villagers.
Selection of the contractor and start of the reconstruction/renovation of School building
As reconstruction/renovation of the School building was paramount important so that the children would be able to continue their studies after Summer vacation, it was
decided to entrust the work to one contractor to start the work. Based on the Quotation submitted by three Contractors.M/s Maa Shakti Constructions were asked to start the work and they have been doing the work on war footing.
Selection of 7 houses for reconstruction and major repair of 9 Houses with the help of ASSRA
We have selected 16 badly damaged houses belonging to the villagers and have decided to renovate them to provide shelter to the needy villagers.
Health & Hygiene programme involving Young House Wives & Adolescent Girls
We have already organised Health & Hygienic programmes involving young House Wives and adolescent Girls and they have promised to continue in their efforts in future also.
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