Some questions are always raised when volunteers responding to a calamity – whether natural or man made-act all by themselves, without being asked by anyone to act or without any benefit whatsoever in their mind. What exactly inspires these volunteers? The Answer is very clear and simple. They draw inspiration from our deep-rooted culture and civilization.
Sewa International has been a privileged organisation so as to say, getting more and more people to join hands in this noble cause and many a times from most unexpected quarters. Here are some of the incidents and experiences.
Gujarat Cyclone -September 1998
The cyclone hit some coastal districts of Gujarat in September 1998 killing over 3000 people and causing an estimated loss of over Rs. 3000 crores, apart from the loss of livelihood.
Sewa International took up the task of relief instantaneously with the support of local volunteers and provided assistance by distributing food, necessary household goods and medicines. As immediate relief, a mobile medical van was pressed into action, which catered to the victims of more than 30 villages around Jamnagar district headquarter by visiting on regular basis with a team of doctors, paramedical staff & medicines. Sewa International UK raised funds for this project through public appeal.
Bhatia village near Jamnagar was taken up for partial rehabilitation as part of the village was left shattered due to the fierce cyclone. Sewa International took up the task of developing all infrastructure for village community like satsang hall, primary school, 3 community halls along with village gate, construction of roads, and the crematorium. The best achievement of the project was developing a new team of volunteers drawn from the village itself which had effectively worked for the rehabilitation program. The inspired volunteers of the village have succeeded in changing outlook of the whole village.
Orissa Super Cyclone- 1999
A super cyclone hit coastal areas of Orissa state on 29th of October 1999, devastating 12 districts, amounting to the loss of over 9500 lives and leaving over 5000 people injured. Over 3.55 lakh cattle deaths were reported.
Sewa International with its affiliate Utkal Bipanna Sahayata Samiti (UBSS) responded to the catastrophe and over 350 volunteers were rushed to rescue the affected victims. The immediate tasks involved removing debris, extricating injured, removal of dead bodies, assisting hospital authorities in nursing the victims, distribution of food, water and relief supplies, setting up tents to provide temporary shelters, trauma recovery and overall comforting the bereaved families including counseling.
The toughest job no one wanted to do.
Temporary structures being erected in Orissa.
SI’s volunteers assisted the army personnel and the Government officials in execution and distribution of relief materials as the whole machinery was in disarray. Roads and the communication systems were badly affected in the coastal region making the rescue and relief a daunting task. Nevertheless its volunteers dared to reach the affected areas and serve them.
Over 50 mass feeding camps were set up in Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack and Puri districts which were worst affected and served free food to over 10,000 people everyday for almost a month. This relief activity was funded by India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF), USA.
Mass feeding camps
Home kits being distributed.
S.I.’s volunteers assisted the survivors in erecting over 3000 thatched houses as part of rehabilitation activities and built a residential school at Gatirautpatna, Cuttack district to educate the children who were either orphaned or who had lost their bread earners.
Helping the Kargil War (1999) Victims
Kargil war, forced on Bharat from across the border, resulted in the displacement of many families and rendered many orphans or destitute in the border districts of Jammu & Kashmir state. Many families lost their means of livelihood in those districts. We salute the brave soldiers of Bharat who sacrificed their lives for protecting the Bharatiya border.
Kargil war & militancy affected people in Jammu & Kashmir.
Sewa International with the aid from India Development & Relief Fund (IDRF), USA rehabilitated the injured military personnel in the Kargil war and other affected personnel due to the militancy in Kashmir after the Kargil war.
Financial assistance to victims or families of the victims for setting up their own business was provided. Air Marshal R.C. Bajpai, on behalf of Sewa International honored 53 disabled personnel. He appreciated the sacrifice of the military personnel and presented them shawls, certificates of their heroic deeds and monetary aid. Relatives of the war victims and the injured were invited to Jammu on 18th January 2000 and were commemorated by Air Marshal Bajpai. The beneficiaries were overwhelmed by the social solidarity when they understood that people from NRI/PIO community have extended this help.
Shawls, certificates and monetary aid for the ex-servicemen being presented.
SI contributed Rs. one lac (Rs.1,00,000/-) to Sena Sahyog Sangathan, to set up Shaurya Prashikshan Kendra at Purkhoo, Jammu district. This project was also funded by the India Development & Relief Fund (IDRF), USA. This centre trains people in civil defense in those border areas and helps the victims of terrorism. In addition, 48 children belonging to war victim families were identified and adopted for providing education under the Education Aid scheme.
Drought Relief in Rajasthan - 2001
Followed by continuous dry spell, Rajasthan experienced a severe drought in the year 2001. Sewa International started relief activities near Jodhpur by providing medical assistance in far flung villages close to the Indo-Pak borders. Temporary cattle sheds were erected in the affected region to provide fodder to the cattle. Veterinary assistance was also provided while supplying drinking water for the people as well as the cattle of the area. Tractors with water tanks were deployed to carry the water to the water starved villages.
Drought Relief in Rajasthan - 2001
Followed by continuous dry spell, Rajasthan experienced a severe drought in the year 2001. Sewa International started relief activities near Jodhpur by providing medical assistance in far flung villages close to the Indo-Pak borders. Temporary cattle sheds were erected in the affected region to provide fodder to the cattle. Veterinary assistance was also provided while supplying drinking water for the people as well as the cattle of the area. Tractors with water tanks were deployed to carry the water to the water starved villages.
One of the worst Draughts Drinking water being carried on on record Donkey
This activity continued for a period of three months to tide over the prevailing drought conditions. With the aid from India Development & Relief Fund, USA and Sewa International, UK two hostels for boys were started in the Jodhpur district, one in Chauhattan with 28 Boys and the other at Lalsagar with 20 Boys with a view to provide good education to meritorious students drawn from various villages along the Indo- Pakistan border as these villages were affected by the drought. All these villages along the Indo-Pak border are devoid of good educational facility and many even do not have a school facility.
Flood Relief in West Bengal - 2001
Flood is common phenomena witnessed almost every successive year in West Bengal but the flood of 2001 swept extensive areas. 19 districts were engulfed due to the high rising flood water, bringing the life to stand still and devastating lives and property worth millions of Rupees.
Thousands of huts & small houses perished due to the floods.
Relief Activities
Sewa International was swift in action to attend to the affected people and started distributing relief materials like food, cloths, utensils in the affected areas. A mobile medical van was immediately pressed into action to cater to the health needs of the affected people, which operated in and around the city of Kolkata covering the slums & nearby shantytowns. Free check-ups & distribution of medicines was immediately taken up. Health camps were conducted in different districts with the help of team of Doctors. Children were worst affected due to the floods washing off their text books and note books.
Sewa International through the local partner organization Sewa Bharati, West Bengal distributed free text books in the 19 affected districts to students of standard 5 to 10. This program continued for next 5 years supporting more children every successive year by distributing the old books collected from the pass outs & distributed to new students, in addition to the new sets of books.
The Killer Earthquake in Gujarat - 2001
The 2001 Gujarat earthquake was reportedly the most devastating earthquake in the history of modern India. It occurred on January 26, 2001, which coincided with the 51st Republic Day celebration. The epicenter of earthquake was Bhuj, Gujarat state. Measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale, the quake killed more than 20,000 people, injured another 55,000 and rendered about a million people homeless across Gujarat.
The Killer Earthquake in Gujarat - 2001
The 2001 Gujarat earthquake was reportedly the most devastating earthquake in the history of modern India. It occurred on January 26, 2001, which coincided with the 51st Republic Day celebration. The epicenter of earthquake was Bhuj, Gujarat state. Measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale, the quake killed more than 20,000 people, injured another 55,000 and rendered about a million people homeless across Gujarat.
Because of its intensity and location, this quake was dreadfully destructive in terms of lives lost and damage to property.
The quake destroyed thousands of houses in Bhuj, several schools and hospitals. Considerable damage occurred also at Bhachau. In Ahmedabad more than 50 multistory buildings collapsed and thousands of buildings developed cracks. The quake destroyed 75% of Kutch. Total property damage was estimated at $5.5 billion. Sewa Bharati Gujarat aided by Sewa International sprang into action to provide immediate relief to those affected, by conducting mass feeding camps, opening health centers, clearing of the debris, collecting the dead bodies and performing the last rites and over all distribution of essential commodities of day to day use like cloths, lanterns, candles, match boxes, food, plastic buckets, mugs and tarpaulin sheets etc.
The quake destroyed thousands of houses in Bhuj, several schools and hospitals. Considerable damage occurred also at Bhachau. In Ahmedabad more than 50 multistory buildings collapsed and thousands of buildings developed cracks. The quake destroyed 75% of Kutch. Total property damage was estimated at $5.5 billion. Sewa Bharati Gujarat aided by Sewa International sprang into action to provide immediate relief to those affected, by conducting mass feeding camps, opening health centers, clearing of the debris, collecting the dead bodies and performing the last rites and over all distribution of essential commodities of day to day use like cloths, lanterns, candles, match boxes, food, plastic buckets, mugs and tarpaulin sheets etc.
A temporary hospital named Dr. Hedgewar Hospital was made operational in Bhuj treating for the victims of earthquake, which had expert team of Doctors from neighboring state Maharashtra. Many injured patients were operated at the hospital. Apart from this, two mobile medical vans started operating immediately after the earthquake to cater to patients by visiting one village after another and providing medical assistance at their doorsteps.
There was a dire need to provide a roof over the head of the victims as the houses had collapsed due to the earthquake. 85 Bhoongas (Kutch traditional houses) each costing approximately Rs. 40.000/= were taken up for construction. The hamlets where Bhoongas were constructed are- 13 in Juna, 6 in Sadhara, 5 in Kharda, 14 in Dinara, 22 in Daddar and 25 in Andho, all in the Bhuj Taluka of Kutch.
There was a dire need to provide a roof over the head of the victims as the houses had collapsed due to the earthquake. 85 Bhoongas (Kutch traditional houses) each costing approximately Rs. 40.000/= were taken up for construction. The hamlets where Bhoongas were constructed are- 13 in Juna, 6 in Sadhara, 5 in Kharda, 14 in Dinara, 22 in Daddar and 25 in Andho, all in the Bhuj Taluka of Kutch.
Shri Shanti Bhai Mistry, Chairman, S.I., U.K. with an ambulance van in Jamnagar.
Sewa International in association with Sewa Bharati took up the task of rehabilitating 14 villages completely with other infrastructures like school, community center, health center, water facility, drainage facility, boundary wall, electrification, main gate, compound wall, cremation ground and chabutra (common place) & bird feeding place- Chotra. More than 1400 residential houses were constructed through this rehab program.
Apart from this, 62 new schools were built in the affected areas & 264 schools were repaired which had been damaged due to the earthquake.
The Pictorial Report of Gujarat Rehabilitation Work Under the Umbrella of SEWA INTERNATIONAL
Tsunami Relief and Rehabilitation Work:
Mass feeding camp
Tsunami 2004 was probably the worst disaster hitting the coastal states of Bharat and other countires on 26th December 2004. Several thousands of people perishad and milions were affected across Asia and Africa. Next only to Indonesia, Sri Lanka was the worst hit with over 50,000 deaths. Devastation in Tamil Nadu was no less with over 20,000 casualties and widesspread destruction across the coastal districts. Volunteers from Seva Bharathi Tamil Nadu, Jan Sankshema Samithi, Vivekanand Kendra, Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram supported by Sewa International had started massive relief works in affected regions right from December 26, 2004 when the disaster struck the Indian coastline. In all these regions, 5824 volunteers were engaged in relief works. In the worst hit state Tamil Nadu, 125 relief camps were set up distributing relief materials to more than 25,000 families. In Andhra Pradesh where the damage to the means of employment (like fishing) was more as compared to the loss of lives, fishing nets to 5000 fishermen and boats to 300 of them were donated. Financial assistance for repairing of fishing nets and diesel engines that are used in boats was provided. Temporary shelters were erected for more than 3500 families. In Kerala, more than 5000 persons got fishing nets, boats etc. A team of 20 doctors was also engaged in relief works. In order to help traumatized victims, 30 counselors served in Tamil Nadu alone.
Rehabilitation Programme for Tsunami-Affected States:
A multi million investment rehabilitation program was chalked out in all the states which were affected by the Tsunami. Rs. 7 crores have already been spent on various relief and rehabilitation work in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and union territory of Andaman and Nicobar.
Through the rehabilitation program 210 houses were constructed in the Keechankuppam village of Tamil Nadu and were handed over to the beneficiaries on 6th July 2006. In the state of Kerala 20 houses were constructed under this program. The other major projects taken up were the construction of a damaged temple at Poompuhar and an Anbu Illam (a home for destitute children) in Nagapattinam district of T.N. and vocational training centers and a Vocational training center at Nagarkovil & Simlivillai in Kanyakumari district. Some other projects like running a hospital are in the pipeline.
Rehabilitation Programme for Tsunami-Affected States:
A multi million investment rehabilitation program was chalked out in all the states which were affected by the Tsunami. Rs. 7 crores have already been spent on various relief and rehabilitation work in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and union territory of Andaman and Nicobar.
Through the rehabilitation program 210 houses were constructed in the Keechankuppam village of Tamil Nadu and were handed over to the beneficiaries on 6th July 2006. In the state of Kerala 20 houses were constructed under this program. The other major projects taken up were the construction of a damaged temple at Poompuhar and an Anbu Illam (a home for destitute children) in Nagapattinam district of T.N. and vocational training centers and a Vocational training center at Nagarkovil & Simlivillai in Kanyakumari district. Some other projects like running a hospital are in the pipeline.
In the state of Andhra Pradesh, SI in partnership with Sewa Bharathi Andhra Pradesh, has started a School on wheels in the Nellore district and a Mobile medical van in Kakinada district of Andhra Pradesh. The school on wheel operates six days a week traveling to far flung hamlets with a teacher and educational kits providing education to children in their own village. Everyday the vehicle covers three places and in total of 18 places in a weeks time.
The mobile medical van operates in the Kakinada district on a regular basis. It serves over 30 villages of the district providing health care with the help of a Doctor and an assistant.
Sri Lanka- A New Initiative
Sri Lanka was the worst affected country due to Tsunami killing more than 50000 people. SI was quick in reaching the Tsunami affected areas in that country providing succor. It was a challenge of establishing a unit in Sri Lanka while simultaneously providing the relief to the Tsunami affected. It is worth mentioning here that S.I.’s volunteers did the magnificent job on both fronts with proficiency. Relief was provided to the affected through 14 relief centers in the two districts of Batticaloa & Ampara and consequently took up construction of 100 permanent houses as rehabilitation task. 76 houses are completed in the first phase, out of which on the 9th of February, 2006, 10 beneficiaries were handed over the keys of the newly constructed houses by the Lord Mayor of Coventry Shri Ram Lakha. Remaining houses were also handed over to the beneficiaries in November 2006.
The mobile medical van operates in the Kakinada district on a regular basis. It serves over 30 villages of the district providing health care with the help of a Doctor and an assistant.
Sri Lanka- A New Initiative
Sri Lanka was the worst affected country due to Tsunami killing more than 50000 people. SI was quick in reaching the Tsunami affected areas in that country providing succor. It was a challenge of establishing a unit in Sri Lanka while simultaneously providing the relief to the Tsunami affected. It is worth mentioning here that S.I.’s volunteers did the magnificent job on both fronts with proficiency. Relief was provided to the affected through 14 relief centers in the two districts of Batticaloa & Ampara and consequently took up construction of 100 permanent houses as rehabilitation task. 76 houses are completed in the first phase, out of which on the 9th of February, 2006, 10 beneficiaries were handed over the keys of the newly constructed houses by the Lord Mayor of Coventry Shri Ram Lakha. Remaining houses were also handed over to the beneficiaries in November 2006.
Tsunami Relief & Rehabilitation :
Initial Relief Activities
- Rescued 115 people from the jaws of death.
- Cleared about 1800 corpses out of the 3378 deaths in Nagapattinam alone.
- Conducted 68 medical camps in 13 affected districts of Tamil Nadu.
- Distributed 93 tons of Rice, 10 tons of Dal and 16 tons of Vegetables.
- Supplied 5,00,000 litres of bottled drinking water.
- Offered 10,000 blankets and 18,000 mats.
- Mobilized 5524 male and 300 female volunteers.
- Performed last rites with dignity for over 1000 unidentified corpses.
- Mobilized 75 Doctors and 5 Ambulances for the medical relief work.
- Operated 15 relief centers on 24 hours basis for nearly three weeks.
- Provided food to 30,000 people daily for fifteen days.
Initial Rehabilitation Activities
- Providing Family kit containing the most essential items for survival to 26,860 families.
- Counseling sessions offered to 113 villages for trauma recovery.
- Special counseling sessions for women and children.
- 1200 Temporary houses constructed at Keechankuppam village by the third week of January 2005.
- Ganga- Mata Yatra conducted from Chennai to Kanyakumari to restore the confidence of the fisher folks and enable them to venture to the sea.
- Number of tuition classes, tailoring and computer classes in the affected area.
- Helping men and women earn decent income by providing them livelihood kits.
- Donation of fishing nets to fishermen.
- Repairs of over 300 boats that were damaged by the giant tsunami waves.
- Erecting a Memorial in memory of the victims of Tsunami.
- Repairing of damaged houses in Andanam & Nicobar Islands.
Major Rehabilitation Projects
- Construction of 400 permanent houses at Keechankuppam village in the Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu.
- Construction of damaged temple at Poompuhar, in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu.
- Construction of Vocational training center at Seemlivilai in Kanyakumari district of TN.
- Construction of Anbu-Illam (Orphange) & Vocational Training center at Nagerkovil, in anyakumari district of TN.
- Construction of 51 houses in Alappuzha district of Kerala.
- Drinking Water Project at Maya Bazar, Edavanna Kadu in Ernakulam Dist., Kerala
- Mobile Medical Van at Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh
- Construction of Girl’s Hostel to accommodate 100 students at Bakultala in Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar
- Construction of 100 Permanent Houses in Ampara and Batticaloa Dist., Sri Lanka.
Present Status of Major Rehabilitation Projects Undertaken
- Vocational Training Center at Seemlivilai has been completed & was handed over on the 20th of January 2006.
- 26 houses at Allapuzha Dist, Kerala have been completed and were handed over to the beneficiaries by the RSS Sarsanghchalak Man. Shri K.S. Sudarshan in the month of February 2006 and 25 more houses were handed over on 25th September 2006.
- Handing over of 10 Permanent Houses at Pandirupu in Batticoloa Dist., Sri Lanka on 9th February, 2006 and another 67 permanent houses have been completed and were handed over on the 25th of November 2006 by Shri Shyam Parande, Secretary of Sewa International.
- First phase of 248 permanent houses were completed & handed over on the 6th of July 2006.
- Construction of Anbu-Illam & Vocational Training center at Nagerkovil, Kanyakumari, District was completed & handed over on the 13th of July 2006.
- Construction of a Temple at Poompuhar which is situated 70 kms from the district hedquarters of Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, completed & handed over on the 9th of February 2007.
- A girls hostel at Bacultala, A&N has been completed in the month of July 2007, and has become functional.
Free Medical Camp By Sewa-International in North-Eastern States of Bharat
Flood Fury of 2004 – Bihar and Assam:
North Bihar experienced a severe flood in year 2004, paralyzing lives in 20 districts and affecting more than 8,000 villages, leaving 683 dead and 22 million affected. 125 villages were completely washed away from the map of Bihar. One million houses destroyed. The worst affected districts were Shivhar, Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Khagaria, Supaul and Saharsa.
North Bihar experienced a severe flood in year 2004, paralyzing lives in 20 districts and affecting more than 8,000 villages, leaving 683 dead and 22 million affected. 125 villages were completely washed away from the map of Bihar. One million houses destroyed. The worst affected districts were Shivhar, Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Khagaria, Supaul and Saharsa.
Satyendra Choudhari Prant Sewa Pramukh of North-Bihar observing the flood damage in Bihar.
Volunteers of Sewa Bharati, Seema Jagaran Manch etc. once again proved their mettle by providing unmatched dedicated service. They went all out for rescue and relief of flood victims. In 18 flood affected districts they operated 78 relief camps and 50 medical camps. To coordinate the whole effort ‘Badh Peedit Sahayata Samiti’ was formed assisted by more than 1200 local volunteers. Each relief camp distributed 2000 to 5000 food packets daily. More than 8 lakh food packets, 281 quintal of food grains, 27000 sets of clothes were distributed. Apart from food, drinking water and medicines were also provided from these camps. 50 medical camps served 400 to 500 patients daily. With the receding flood waters, 400 badly affected families were identified, who were allotted a low cost house each, covering four districts.
The flood fury of Assam, particularly in Brahmputra valley and Barak valley, was unprecedented. The pre-monsoon shower during the months of March and April (2004) was very severe and unexpected. Due to this early rainfall all the low-lying areas and wetlands were filled up and rivers were in high spate. Silt deposits in the rivers and heavy rainfall in the catchment areas like Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Bhutan and even China caused this unprecedented flood. Another important reason was the unscientific and haphazard construction of the embankments by different agencies of the Government for two decades, blocking the inlet and outlet systems of the wetlands in a number of cases. The intensity of the flood in Assam could be imagined from the fact that 26 out of 27 districts were affected. More than 15 million people were severely affected and displaced and took shelter in 1900 relief camps. At least 300 people died. In as many as 134 places the embankments on the rivers and the tributaries were breached. For around 15 days the rail link between Guwahati and Dibrugarh were completely cut off. The standing crop and the seedlings were completely damaged.
In response to the unprecedented devastation and misery of the flood victims, volunteers of Sewa International, Sewa Bharati, National Medicos Organisation, Akhil Bhartiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, Bharat Vikas Parishad and other local organizations jumped into the service of the suffering people with their all might, ignoring the sufferings of their own kith and kin. Hundreds of workers started relief work systematically particularly under the banner of “Seva-Bharati Purvanchal”. Different state units of above mentioned organizations collected relief materials including medicines, baby food, vitamins, food materials, disinfectants, water purifiers, tents etc and sent them by air to Sewa Bharati Purvanchal’s office at Paltan Bazar, Guwahati. SI operated the flood relief centre for a period of six months so that it could serve the maximum number of victims.
Jammu & Kashmir Earthquake: Relief and Rehabilitation Work:
“Misfortune does not come alone”, a local proverb appropriately matched to Jammu & Kashmir (J & K) State during the earthquake in 2005. While on the one hand, people of J & K stand battered by the terrorism from across the border, causing insecurity, fear and reign of terror, on the other hand, earthquake of 8th October 2005 made life miserable. Nature’s fury in the form of Earthquake, which occurred on 8th October 2005 at 9 a.m., caused havoc on both sides of Line of Control, with an intensity of 7.6 on Richter scale. On the Indian side of LoC about 1500 people died, thousands of houses collapsed and some partially damaged, thousands of people rendered homeless and were exposed to cruelly cold winter. Can death be so cruel, so fatal and so devastating? This was a rare and devastating natural calamity.
Volunteers of Sewa Bharati, Seema Jagaran Manch etc. once again proved their mettle by providing unmatched dedicated service. They went all out for rescue and relief of flood victims. In 18 flood affected districts they operated 78 relief camps and 50 medical camps. To coordinate the whole effort ‘Badh Peedit Sahayata Samiti’ was formed assisted by more than 1200 local volunteers. Each relief camp distributed 2000 to 5000 food packets daily. More than 8 lakh food packets, 281 quintal of food grains, 27000 sets of clothes were distributed. Apart from food, drinking water and medicines were also provided from these camps. 50 medical camps served 400 to 500 patients daily. With the receding flood waters, 400 badly affected families were identified, who were allotted a low cost house each, covering four districts.
The flood fury of Assam, particularly in Brahmputra valley and Barak valley, was unprecedented. The pre-monsoon shower during the months of March and April (2004) was very severe and unexpected. Due to this early rainfall all the low-lying areas and wetlands were filled up and rivers were in high spate. Silt deposits in the rivers and heavy rainfall in the catchment areas like Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Bhutan and even China caused this unprecedented flood. Another important reason was the unscientific and haphazard construction of the embankments by different agencies of the Government for two decades, blocking the inlet and outlet systems of the wetlands in a number of cases. The intensity of the flood in Assam could be imagined from the fact that 26 out of 27 districts were affected. More than 15 million people were severely affected and displaced and took shelter in 1900 relief camps. At least 300 people died. In as many as 134 places the embankments on the rivers and the tributaries were breached. For around 15 days the rail link between Guwahati and Dibrugarh were completely cut off. The standing crop and the seedlings were completely damaged.
In response to the unprecedented devastation and misery of the flood victims, volunteers of Sewa International, Sewa Bharati, National Medicos Organisation, Akhil Bhartiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, Bharat Vikas Parishad and other local organizations jumped into the service of the suffering people with their all might, ignoring the sufferings of their own kith and kin. Hundreds of workers started relief work systematically particularly under the banner of “Seva-Bharati Purvanchal”. Different state units of above mentioned organizations collected relief materials including medicines, baby food, vitamins, food materials, disinfectants, water purifiers, tents etc and sent them by air to Sewa Bharati Purvanchal’s office at Paltan Bazar, Guwahati. SI operated the flood relief centre for a period of six months so that it could serve the maximum number of victims.
Jammu & Kashmir Earthquake: Relief and Rehabilitation Work:
“Misfortune does not come alone”, a local proverb appropriately matched to Jammu & Kashmir (J & K) State during the earthquake in 2005. While on the one hand, people of J & K stand battered by the terrorism from across the border, causing insecurity, fear and reign of terror, on the other hand, earthquake of 8th October 2005 made life miserable. Nature’s fury in the form of Earthquake, which occurred on 8th October 2005 at 9 a.m., caused havoc on both sides of Line of Control, with an intensity of 7.6 on Richter scale. On the Indian side of LoC about 1500 people died, thousands of houses collapsed and some partially damaged, thousands of people rendered homeless and were exposed to cruelly cold winter. Can death be so cruel, so fatal and so devastating? This was a rare and devastating natural calamity.
Secretary Sewa Bharati, J&K, Sudeshpal with his co-workers launching a mobile medical van.
Relief work: Sewa International in association with Sewa Bharti J&K responded to the calamity immediately. A team of volunteers was deputed to the worst affected areas of Kashmir division and Poonch in Jammu division. The survey was conducted to assess the human as well as material loss and needs of the suffering populace. Shelter (tents), warm clothes & blankets, food, and medicine were needed most urgently and SI decided to provide these as quickly as possible.
Sewa Bharti under the banner of "Shezar" and "Rashtriya Muslim Movement" mustered nearly 40 volunteers to provide medicines, clothes, food, milk and cereals to the indoor patients in Srinagar Medical Hospital, brought from the affected areas. Dr. Manish Tayal a Sewa International volunteer from UK also offered his voluntary services for 15 days in the affected region & conducted six camps treating the patients & providing them free medicines. SI’s volunteers worked shoulder to shoulder with military personnel in providing relief to the villages in the border areas. A team of qualified Doctors/Staff with an ambulance containing medicine worth Rs.50,000/- visited twice in the affected areas in Kashmir covering nearly 37 villages in Titwal & Tangdhar in Uri sector and Kupwara sector, where free medicines and consultation was given to the injured and other patients.
Sewa Bharti under the banner of "Shezar" and "Rashtriya Muslim Movement" mustered nearly 40 volunteers to provide medicines, clothes, food, milk and cereals to the indoor patients in Srinagar Medical Hospital, brought from the affected areas. Dr. Manish Tayal a Sewa International volunteer from UK also offered his voluntary services for 15 days in the affected region & conducted six camps treating the patients & providing them free medicines. SI’s volunteers worked shoulder to shoulder with military personnel in providing relief to the villages in the border areas. A team of qualified Doctors/Staff with an ambulance containing medicine worth Rs.50,000/- visited twice in the affected areas in Kashmir covering nearly 37 villages in Titwal & Tangdhar in Uri sector and Kupwara sector, where free medicines and consultation was given to the injured and other patients.
In Poonch sector, Jammu division Sewa International and Sewa Bharti mustered a large number of volunteers who reached the remotest corners, where even the Government agencies could not reach till then and distributed nearly 1500 blankets, utensils, clothes, etc. among the victims of earthquake. Monetary help to 95 families was also provided for getting their damaged houses repaired. The enthusiasm of the volunteers and their courage is worth appreciating here as they were serving in a terrorist-infested area with most hostile climatic conditions. A constant effort of all social voluntary organizations and Government agencies helped in the normalization of the situation.
In spite of limited resources, the zeal, enthusiasm, dedication and painstaking spirit of Sewa Bharati & SI’s volunteers had encouraged it to add more feather in its rehabilitation work. Hence, Sewa International and Sewa Bharati J & K planned to construct a community hall-cum-rescue center, one school and one dispensary at 3 places in Poonch in Jammu division and 3 places in Kashmir division (Uri, Tangdhar, Kupwara). This construction work was completed by September, 2006.
Sewa International had sponsored a mobile medical van immediately after the earthquake to serve earthquake victims. In a hostile terrain where there is hardly any transportation available, a mobile medical van with a team of expert medical professionals catered to the health needs and also served the purpose of carrying relief materials to the affected areas.
SI has also undertaken a project for Boys’ Hostel construction at Katra, the foot hill town of Mata Vaishno Davi shrine, which would accommodate 50 students drawn from the families of earthquake victims. Presently, 42 inmates have already joined the hostel that is being run in a rented place.
In spite of limited resources, the zeal, enthusiasm, dedication and painstaking spirit of Sewa Bharati & SI’s volunteers had encouraged it to add more feather in its rehabilitation work. Hence, Sewa International and Sewa Bharati J & K planned to construct a community hall-cum-rescue center, one school and one dispensary at 3 places in Poonch in Jammu division and 3 places in Kashmir division (Uri, Tangdhar, Kupwara). This construction work was completed by September, 2006.
Sewa International had sponsored a mobile medical van immediately after the earthquake to serve earthquake victims. In a hostile terrain where there is hardly any transportation available, a mobile medical van with a team of expert medical professionals catered to the health needs and also served the purpose of carrying relief materials to the affected areas.
SI has also undertaken a project for Boys’ Hostel construction at Katra, the foot hill town of Mata Vaishno Davi shrine, which would accommodate 50 students drawn from the families of earthquake victims. Presently, 42 inmates have already joined the hostel that is being run in a rented place.
Sewa International Contributes in the Relief and Rehabilitation of Katrina Hurricane Affected People in Louisiana, USA:
Hurricane Katrina struck on August 23, 2005 and caused devastation along much of the north-central Gulf Coast. The most severe loss of life and property was witnessed in New Orleans, Louisiana, which was flooded as the levee system catastrophically failed, after the storm moved towards inland. At least 1,836 people lost their lives in Hurricane Katrina and in the subsequent floods, making it the deadliest U.S. hurricane.
Shri K. G. Parande, Secretary, Sewa International handing over a cheque worth $15,001/- to Louisiana Governor, Kathleen Blanco, also in the picture is Dr. B. K. Agnihotri
Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco had all praise for the timely efforts of Sewa International USA (Sewa - USA) volunteers in the aftermath of the disastrous Katrina hurricane in the Gulf Coast. Sewa USA, an organization whose commitment and primary focus is on providing voluntary services to disaster-afflicted, joined hands with local NGOs for serving the hurricane affected people in various cities of Louisiana State. These areas included the worst-hit New Orleans and different parts of the United States including Houston, Texas where many victims took shelter. Gov. Blanco expressed her views when a high-level delegation of SI led by its Secretary, Shyam Parande, met the Louisiana Governor at Baton Rouge in the first week of October 2005. The delegation that included the former NRI Ambassador-at-Large Dr. Bhishma Agnihotri and Shri Saumitra Gokhale, Coordinator of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS), USA, presented Blanco with a donation of $15,001 for Katrina survivors. In Baton Rouge, Dr. Agnihotri was actively involved in relief and rescue operations, while in Houston SI – USA and HSS, USA together was at the forefront of the voluntary work on behalf of the large Indian-American community, primarily of Hindu heritage. Volunteers in Houston and elsewhere worked with the American Red Cross, other non-profit organizations and FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
In reference to his meeting with Gov. Blanco, Shri K.G. Parande said that the governor had expressed appreciation for the invaluable voluntary work rendered by Sewa - USA and HSS USA for the Katrina survivors. Shri Parande conveyed the governor’s plea to displaced survivors, requesting them to return to New Orleans. “Gov. Blanco would like to see residents return to a place where there is no major demographic change” said Shri Parande. The governor was also curious about $1 added to the donation of $15,000, he added. The delegation explained that it was Hindu tradition not to give money ending in a zero. "The ‘1’ at the end is expression that the contribution is only the beginning and not an end," Shri Parande explained. Shri Parande was in USA on a three-week, 20-city visit in the US, to thank people who had lent support during the Asian tsunami.
In an earlier letter to Gov. Blanco, Sewa - USA offered help for the post-Katrina relief works offering the State of Louisiana assistance from software training companies to provide computer-based training. Sewa - USA national coordinator Shri Srikanth Konda who organised the meeting between the delegation and the governor, has had extensive experience in providing voluntary leadership for over ten years, including one year in the Caribbean.
“In terms of community support, we were overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness of so many reaching out to help those who were desperately in need. Over $100 000 was raised by Sewa-USA, mainly from Hindu-Americans, for Katrina hurricane relief,” said Konda.
Flood Relief - 2006
Flood in Surat (Gujarat): Over 600 volunteers rushed to carry out rescue & relief operations from different parts of Gujarat incuding the flood affected district of Surat and adjoining areas.
Till 10th of August 2006, the volunteers of Sewa Bharati distributed 80,000 food packets, 4,500 milk sachets, 1,11,000 water sachets in the flood affected areas. Relief centers at four places in Surat were started to meet the needs of the affected people without any delay.
Shri Nand Kishor in Jain Nagar, Shri Rajeshbhai Shah in Miranagar Udhna, Shri Raj Kumar at Bathar Road and Shri Ajaybhai Desai at station road Surat took care of & provided guidance at the relief centers where collection & distribution of relief materials was being carried out round the clock. Relief materials were distributed to 5225 people. Apart from this, temporary shelter & food were provided to the people of slums in Sishu Mandir School – Udhna, Vrindavan Hall and Uma Bhawan.
A truck loaded with relief materials was dispatched from the RSS office at Ahmedabad for Surat carrying 4500 kg of Sukhri (dry food cake), 5500 kg of salted edible materials, 6000 packets of biscuits, 2000 kg puris, 10,000 water sachets, 100 kg Pickles, 900 packets candles, 600 packets Match boxes, 165 bundles of ropes etc. 50 centers at Ahmedabad were busy preparing food packets under the supervision of Shri Laveshbhai.
Flood Relief Activity in Maharashtra: Heavy rains and consequent floods caused tremendous loss in various parts of Maharashtra in 2006. Jankalyan Samiti in Maharashtra undertook the task of rescue & relief for the flood victims in the affected areas of the state.
In Mumbai, drinking water bottles, food packets, food grains, and medicines were supplied to thousands of affected people.
In Nanded town which is located on the banks of river Godavari, people from four localities (Gangachawl, Degavchawl, Nallagutta and Golchawl) were shifted to government schools during floods, Sewa International activists supplied drinking water and food packets. All these localities were cleaned up after receding of water and disinfected with DDT and other disinfectants. Health camps were organised and a survey was also conducted to assess the loss.
In Kolhapur, Shirol tehsil was worst affected. In 21 villages medical camps were started. Two mobile vans pressed into Service. Essential items such as utensils, clothes, bedspreads etc. were distributed.
In Kolhapur city, free health camp was organized.
The Godavari Flood Disaster- Andhra Pradesh: Aug, 2006.
The month of August in 2006 proved to be most ominous for so many people who were living on the bank of rivers Godavari and Sabari in Andhra Pradesh.
Especially, Khammam, East and West Godavari Districts were badly affected with flash flood. Usually Godavari floods steadily, but August 2006 was totally different. Within few hours the height of the water level of the Godavari ascended to 67.7 ft. Thousands of people ran away from their houses to safer places without being able to protecting their valuables, not to talk of paddy and other food materials.
In Khammam District, Chintoor, Kunavaram, Vara Ramachandra puram, Kukkunuru, Velerupadu and Boorugumpadu were badly affected blocks. Chintoor, V.R.Puram and Kunavaram were affected by the aggravated river Sabari, a tributary to Godavari. It came like a tidal wave and wiped away the villages, crops and permanent buildings also. 60 villages were submerged for more than a week.
In East Godavari district, Mummidivaram, Inavalli and Katrenikona mandals were inundated in Godavari Water for six days. Forty villages were worst affected and Katrenikona mandal still flooded for another week.
Seva Bharathi, Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Bharat Vikas Parishat activists and RSS Swayamsevaks immediately rushed to the affected villages and distributed 25 quintals of rice, 2 quintal of Dal, five thousand food packets, five thousand milk packets, six thousand bread packets and ten thousand drinking water sachets for three days with the help of boats.
In Khammam District, Seva Bharathi provided medical services. In Chintoor and VR Puram Mandals approximately 1600 patients were treated.
Sewa International Serving the Flood Victims in Bihar: 2007
On the fateful day of July 29, 2007, flood water started spreading all over North Bihar. Darbhanga, Madhubani, Samastipur, Saharsa, Begusarai, Muzaffarpur, Madhepura were the worst affected districts of the region. A huge loss of lives, properties, cattle and other belongings took place and the affected people were desperately waiting for relief for mere survival. Observing the intensity of the situation, the volunteers of Sewa Bharati took the initiative in providing immediate relief led by Deepak Kumar Sinha, Secretary and coordinator of Sewa Bharati.
It was resolved that for speedy and effective relief, volunteers from all like minded organizations should work together. On 31st July, relief centers started operating in six different localities of Darbhanga town. Displaced people in large number turned up at the relief centers and availed services like food, clothing, temporary shelter, medicines etc. Relief material was collected by the volunteers of Sewa Bharati through door to door collection from the society.
To review the ongoing rescue and relief work in the above mentioned flood affected areas, the important functionaries had a meeting on the 8th of August 2007 in the presence of Mr Chandra Mohan Roy, the Health Minister of Bihar. He appreciated the volunteers of Sewa Bharati for their exceptionally hard toil in serving the flood victims. He had a proposal for permanent rehabilitation in the area as the floods have been devastating the region almost annually. SI is glad to inform that many NGOs joined the relief and rescue operations drawing motivation from the Sewa Bharati. More than 50,000 houses were completely washed away by the flood water. The flood had a very devastating effect this year, as the state witnessed floods five times in a consecutive period of two months and the water remained logged for a longer duration. The water logging destroyed the standing crop and several houses and practically bringing the life to standstill. Sewa International organized regular health camps in the affected districts to prevent widespread of diseases.
In reference to his meeting with Gov. Blanco, Shri K.G. Parande said that the governor had expressed appreciation for the invaluable voluntary work rendered by Sewa - USA and HSS USA for the Katrina survivors. Shri Parande conveyed the governor’s plea to displaced survivors, requesting them to return to New Orleans. “Gov. Blanco would like to see residents return to a place where there is no major demographic change” said Shri Parande. The governor was also curious about $1 added to the donation of $15,000, he added. The delegation explained that it was Hindu tradition not to give money ending in a zero. "The ‘1’ at the end is expression that the contribution is only the beginning and not an end," Shri Parande explained. Shri Parande was in USA on a three-week, 20-city visit in the US, to thank people who had lent support during the Asian tsunami.
In an earlier letter to Gov. Blanco, Sewa - USA offered help for the post-Katrina relief works offering the State of Louisiana assistance from software training companies to provide computer-based training. Sewa - USA national coordinator Shri Srikanth Konda who organised the meeting between the delegation and the governor, has had extensive experience in providing voluntary leadership for over ten years, including one year in the Caribbean.
“In terms of community support, we were overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness of so many reaching out to help those who were desperately in need. Over $100 000 was raised by Sewa-USA, mainly from Hindu-Americans, for Katrina hurricane relief,” said Konda.
Flood Relief - 2006
Flood in Surat (Gujarat): Over 600 volunteers rushed to carry out rescue & relief operations from different parts of Gujarat incuding the flood affected district of Surat and adjoining areas.
Till 10th of August 2006, the volunteers of Sewa Bharati distributed 80,000 food packets, 4,500 milk sachets, 1,11,000 water sachets in the flood affected areas. Relief centers at four places in Surat were started to meet the needs of the affected people without any delay.
Shri Nand Kishor in Jain Nagar, Shri Rajeshbhai Shah in Miranagar Udhna, Shri Raj Kumar at Bathar Road and Shri Ajaybhai Desai at station road Surat took care of & provided guidance at the relief centers where collection & distribution of relief materials was being carried out round the clock. Relief materials were distributed to 5225 people. Apart from this, temporary shelter & food were provided to the people of slums in Sishu Mandir School – Udhna, Vrindavan Hall and Uma Bhawan.
A truck loaded with relief materials was dispatched from the RSS office at Ahmedabad for Surat carrying 4500 kg of Sukhri (dry food cake), 5500 kg of salted edible materials, 6000 packets of biscuits, 2000 kg puris, 10,000 water sachets, 100 kg Pickles, 900 packets candles, 600 packets Match boxes, 165 bundles of ropes etc. 50 centers at Ahmedabad were busy preparing food packets under the supervision of Shri Laveshbhai.
Flood Relief Activity in Maharashtra: Heavy rains and consequent floods caused tremendous loss in various parts of Maharashtra in 2006. Jankalyan Samiti in Maharashtra undertook the task of rescue & relief for the flood victims in the affected areas of the state.
In Mumbai, drinking water bottles, food packets, food grains, and medicines were supplied to thousands of affected people.
In Nanded town which is located on the banks of river Godavari, people from four localities (Gangachawl, Degavchawl, Nallagutta and Golchawl) were shifted to government schools during floods, Sewa International activists supplied drinking water and food packets. All these localities were cleaned up after receding of water and disinfected with DDT and other disinfectants. Health camps were organised and a survey was also conducted to assess the loss.
In Kolhapur, Shirol tehsil was worst affected. In 21 villages medical camps were started. Two mobile vans pressed into Service. Essential items such as utensils, clothes, bedspreads etc. were distributed.
In Kolhapur city, free health camp was organized.
The Godavari Flood Disaster- Andhra Pradesh: Aug, 2006.
The month of August in 2006 proved to be most ominous for so many people who were living on the bank of rivers Godavari and Sabari in Andhra Pradesh.
Especially, Khammam, East and West Godavari Districts were badly affected with flash flood. Usually Godavari floods steadily, but August 2006 was totally different. Within few hours the height of the water level of the Godavari ascended to 67.7 ft. Thousands of people ran away from their houses to safer places without being able to protecting their valuables, not to talk of paddy and other food materials.
In Khammam District, Chintoor, Kunavaram, Vara Ramachandra puram, Kukkunuru, Velerupadu and Boorugumpadu were badly affected blocks. Chintoor, V.R.Puram and Kunavaram were affected by the aggravated river Sabari, a tributary to Godavari. It came like a tidal wave and wiped away the villages, crops and permanent buildings also. 60 villages were submerged for more than a week.
In East Godavari district, Mummidivaram, Inavalli and Katrenikona mandals were inundated in Godavari Water for six days. Forty villages were worst affected and Katrenikona mandal still flooded for another week.
Seva Bharathi, Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Bharat Vikas Parishat activists and RSS Swayamsevaks immediately rushed to the affected villages and distributed 25 quintals of rice, 2 quintal of Dal, five thousand food packets, five thousand milk packets, six thousand bread packets and ten thousand drinking water sachets for three days with the help of boats.
In Khammam District, Seva Bharathi provided medical services. In Chintoor and VR Puram Mandals approximately 1600 patients were treated.
Sewa International Serving the Flood Victims in Bihar: 2007
On the fateful day of July 29, 2007, flood water started spreading all over North Bihar. Darbhanga, Madhubani, Samastipur, Saharsa, Begusarai, Muzaffarpur, Madhepura were the worst affected districts of the region. A huge loss of lives, properties, cattle and other belongings took place and the affected people were desperately waiting for relief for mere survival. Observing the intensity of the situation, the volunteers of Sewa Bharati took the initiative in providing immediate relief led by Deepak Kumar Sinha, Secretary and coordinator of Sewa Bharati.
It was resolved that for speedy and effective relief, volunteers from all like minded organizations should work together. On 31st July, relief centers started operating in six different localities of Darbhanga town. Displaced people in large number turned up at the relief centers and availed services like food, clothing, temporary shelter, medicines etc. Relief material was collected by the volunteers of Sewa Bharati through door to door collection from the society.
To review the ongoing rescue and relief work in the above mentioned flood affected areas, the important functionaries had a meeting on the 8th of August 2007 in the presence of Mr Chandra Mohan Roy, the Health Minister of Bihar. He appreciated the volunteers of Sewa Bharati for their exceptionally hard toil in serving the flood victims. He had a proposal for permanent rehabilitation in the area as the floods have been devastating the region almost annually. SI is glad to inform that many NGOs joined the relief and rescue operations drawing motivation from the Sewa Bharati. More than 50,000 houses were completely washed away by the flood water. The flood had a very devastating effect this year, as the state witnessed floods five times in a consecutive period of two months and the water remained logged for a longer duration. The water logging destroyed the standing crop and several houses and practically bringing the life to standstill. Sewa International organized regular health camps in the affected districts to prevent widespread of diseases.
