Sending you a letter from our friend Sh. D. K. Mishra on the tragedy of the flood relief. Also, find the latest on the losses due to flood in Bihar.
Vagish
(I)
The losses during the floods are often so severe that it takes a long time to recover from the shock. Many people have to depend on relief, whether willingly or otherwise, for survival. As the number of relief seekers swell, the situation at the ground becomes difficult for the administration to handle. The situation has deteriorated so badly that, at least, at three occasions in the recent past, police had to fire at the relief seekers. The first incident of its kind occurred in Pothia (Kishanganj district) in 1991 when three persons were killed. According to official sources, the death toll was only two and the third person was missing. He is still missing. In an another incident, the police fired ‘in self defence’ at the relief seekers in Sitamarhi on the 11th August 1998. Their fault was that they were demanding adequate relief and protesting against bungling and mismanagement in relief operations. Two persons among the dead were the workers of the Janta Dal and that made the whole issue political. The opposition charged the Government of being insensitive to the woes of the people and the ruling party charged the opposition of taking political advantage from the miseries of the flood hit people. The police action did not stop at Sitamarhi. It was followed up in Aurai, district Muzaffarpur, on the 6th August 2001 killing, at least, six persons. The row ensued when then munshi who was in charge of relief distribution started giving less quantities of food grains than prescribed by the Government. When the flood victims, mostly the red-card holders, protested against this arbitrary action of the munshi, the tussle started which resulted in police firing. This year, in 2004, resorted to firing on the relief seekers on the 4th August, at Patepur in Vaishali district of Bihar resulting in the death of a 14 years old boy named Mantun Paswan. The flood victims were looking for the Circle Officer of the Patepur block for starting the relief operations and the protesters turned violent. The police had to fire in self-defence.
Dinesh Mishra Patna 10th August 2004
(II)
Dear All,
This is the latest from Bihar Flood Scene on the 6th August 2004.
No: of Districts Affected: 20 (All north Bihar Districts minus Saran and Siwan. Bihar has altogether 38 districts) Blocks affected 203 (Out of 320 in North Bihar) Panchayats Affected 2763 (Out of 8471 in Bihar) Villages Affected 9366 (Out of 45,098 in Bihar) Population Affected 21.18 millions (Total 52.3 million-2001 North Bihar) Flood Affected Area 49.86 LH ( Total 54 LH-North Bihar) Crops Damaged Over 13.42 LH Value of Crops DamagedRs. 368.48 Crores No: of Houses Damaged 720,026 Value of Houses Damaged Rs.365.74 Crores Public Property Worth Rs. 536.71 Crores No: of Human Lives Lost 649 Cattle life Lost 2439 No: of Boats Deployed 7660 Readymade food distributed 2823 Tons G.R.Distributed 16,438Tons Cash Dole Distributed Rs. 7.91 Crores Polythene Sheets Distributed 4,90,273 Total Dry Food Airdropped. 830 Tons
Source: Report of Disaster Management Department, GOB, Dated 8th August 2004.
The state has demanded from the Centre Government a sum of Rs. 7035.63 crores, according to the report submitted to the team visiting the state to look into the flood damages. The claims are as under,
Disaster Management Department Rs. 3047.45 Crores Water Resources Dept. Rs. 960.00 Crores Health&Family Welfare Rs. 65.00 Crores Animal Husbandry & Fisheries Rs. 100.47 Crores Road Construction Rs. 413.57 Crores Rural Engineering Rs. 480.00 Crores BSEB Rs 54.35 Crores PHED Rs. 160.34 Crores Welfare Dept. Rs. 276.52 Crores Rural Development To be submitted later Urban Development Rs. 85.92 Crores HRD(Secondary) Rs. 54.34 Crores HRD (Primary) Rs. 160.80 Crores Food & Civil Supplies Rs. 6.40 Crores Minor Irrigation Rs. 100.10 Crores Agriculture Dept. Rs. 306.22 Crores Medical Education Rs. 11.15 Crores Raised Platforms Rs. 750.00 Crores Helipad Rs. 3.00 Crores
Total Rs. 7035.63 Crores
Note:
Some 6 bridges on the NH are washed away and another 225 damaged. There have been 118 breaches in the NH in the state in recent floods. On the state highways, ten bridges have collapsed and 323 damages. Overtopping has been observed at many places on the NH as well as SH. Some 8 routes on the NH and 38 routes on the SH and other roads had to be closed due to floods.
Water Resources Dept. is happy that only 55 breaches have taken place on their embankments (total length 3430 kilometers) while the number of breaches were 300 in the floods of 1987. For certain, the WRD is spreading a canard that there were 300 breaches in 1987. I have a report of 1987 that innumerates the river basin wise breaches on the embankments totaling to 105 numbers. The annual report of WRD (1987) confirms this number. It is just likely that the WRD has included the breaches that occurred in the Zamindari and Maharaji embankments to reach the figure of 300 (in 1987). The state WRD shouts from the roof tops that the Zamindari and the Maharaji embankments do not belong to them (WRD). It exercises its ownership on them when it suits the department.
Another disturbing feature of the losses is that the flood affected area of the state (2004) is reported to be 49.86 lakh hectares while, in 1987, it was 47.50 LH but the affected population is much less this year (21.18 million) against 28.6 million in 1987. I find it hard to explain that to myself. The number of human deaths is, fortunately, less this time. In 1987, it was 1600.
Politics was played in 1987 and it is being played in 2004 also. There was the same party rule in Patna and Delhi in 1987 and the almost similar situation is there in 2004 also. 1987 flood of Bihar was lost in the din of nation wide drought and it would be lost this year too because so many other states have suffered in the first round of floods and much more is in offing as the life has already been disrupted in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana, Assam and Himachal Pradesh.
The Water Resources Minister and his deputy at the Centre, however, have completed the formality of telling people that the negotiations are on with Nepal and that an office will be opened soon in Nepal for preparing the DPR of the Barahkshetra Dam on the Kosi, which would solve all the flood problems of the state. A SUN OF Rs. 29 Crores has been allotted for the purpose. I again fail to understand how one single dam over one single river would solve all the flood problems of the state but when a responsible minister says so, it must be true. Many lay persons have started saying that if only the rivers were linked, this disaster could have been averted. With 55 breaches in the embankments and over 550 breaches in the roads (The railways are yet to disclose their score), I fail to understand in what shape our Kosi-Ghaghara and Kosi- Mechi link canals would be, but when so many ‘believers’ feel that those proposed canals would divert all the ‘killer’ water to Tamil Nadu, I have no other choice than to join the majority. Yes, it will. Will someone bail me out from this state of utter confusion?
Please read these sentence "The recipient organization must be registered under the Indo-U.S. Agreement. If you or an associated organization is registered under this Agreement we may be able to support your relief efforts by providing an emergency shipment of medical goods (antibiotics, antiparasitics, gastrointestinal agents, antiseptics/disinfectants, nutritional supplements, and first aid, hospital and clinic, and personal care supplies). We would require a copy of the Indo-U.S. Agreement as well as a needs list and distribution plan."
We could not understand after FCRA , what type of agreement needed.You can look it in U.S.Embassy for detail.
Subject: Medical assistance in response to flooding
Dear Mr. Bharti:
I am in receipt of your email requesting assistance in response to the devastating flooding that has occurred in India. Direct Relief International is a non-profit, non-sectarian medical relief and health assistance organization that supports the immediate and on-going work of disaster relief teams and grassroots community health initiatives worldwide by donating appropriate and specifically-requested pharmaceuticals, nutritional supplements, medical supplies, and medical equipment. The majority of these commodities are contributed to Direct Relief from U.S. manufacturers as well as health facilities and offices. In this way, Direct Relief and its corporate partners provide healthcare workers at disaster sites and in medically-indigent communities with previously unavailable medical instruments, disposable sterile supplies, essential pharmaceuticals, and well-functioning medical equipment. Please read more about Direct Relief International at our website: directrelief.org.
Direct Relief has worked to provide disaster relief and on-going medical assistance to partner facilities and organizations in India for over 40 years. In order to import medical goods into India duty free, however, the recipient organization must be registered under the Indo-U.S. Agreement. If you or an associated organization is registered under this Agreementwe may be able to support your relief efforts by providing an emergency shipment of medical goods (antibiotics, antiparasitics, gastrointestinal agents, antiseptics/disinfectants, nutritional supplements, and first aid, hospital and clinic, and personal care supplies). We would require a copy of the Indo-U.S. Agreement as well as a needs list and distribution plan.
Please let me know if you are interested in working with Direct Relief to assist the population in the affected areas.
Thanks for your inquiry and all of your good work.
Sincerely,
Susan Fowler
Director of Programs
--------------------------------
Susan Fowler
Director of Programs
Direct Relief International
sfowler@...
805 964-4767 x140
From: Info Sent: Monday, August 02, 2004 9:45 AM To:Susan Fowler Subject: FW: Bihar (INDIA) Flood Relief 2004 ,Ngo ssvk Bihar Importance: High
From: deepak1004@... [mailto:deepak1004@...] Sent: Saturday, July 31, 2004 9:34 AM To: Info Subject: Bihar (INDIA) Flood Relief 2004 ,Ngo ssvk Bihar Importance: High
Subject: Bihar (INDIA) Flood Relief 2004
Dear Madam/Sir
It is the current severity with which the floods broken the 1987 heighest flood record, have affected North Bihar (INDIA) that defines the context of this letter to you. Our operational area comprises the districts of north BiharMadhubani, Darbhanga, Supaul and Saharsa district which, given their proness to floods, have not escaped the ravages this year as well. In fact they happen to be the worst off in the current spate of floods. To provide you with an overview of the status of floods in the state, we are including herewith a basic fact-sheet which has been worked out on the basis of information culled from different dailies being published from the state capital. Near about 545 people died .
Though our major thrust has been developmental intervention, relief intervention is something we have had to necessarily deal with. Our relief intervention initiative dates back to 1987 since when we have been involved in flood relief work with assistance from agencies like OXFAM, IGSSS, Swiss Red Cross, CASA , ActionAid India etc.
We are ready for relief operation with 40 project workers and 1100 Volunteers . 35 Boats are also available in our mass organisation “Lok Shakti Sangathan” contacts.
50 other Ngo of Bihar who is also under our NGO network of “Bihar” . Our strategy in relief intervention has been to actively involve the beneficiaries in operationalising the relief intervention and not treat them as mere recipients of dole. The gamut of activities covered under relief intervention have included distribution of Polythene sheets, running of free Meal centres, distribution of Medicines, provisioning of safe Drinking water and Boats,Clothes, Utensils etc. Food for Work programme as well as post-flood rehabilitation package like construction of Roads/houses, Renovation of ponds etc. After the Flood we will continue the work of Disaster Prepareness. All activities are meticulously recorded and transparently presented to the concerned donor and state govt
Given this back ground, we solicit your kind assistance to enable us to undertake relief intervention. In the event of an affirmative response, we would be furnishing you with all the details necessary for the work and as desired by you.
We need above materials for 4 district that is Saharsa, Supaul, Darbhanga and Madhubani district Bihar. Hope you will consider and cooperate our people. We are involve in relief work at small level with local contribution..
Looking forward to hearing from you soon.Plese see atachment for detail.
I got your reference article. Thanks. I have not attended any of recent meetings of Bihar Chintan, sorry for that. I am continuing with my project on Bihar(Book on Socio Economic Development). I was so engrossed, which still I am, in some family affairs that I could not even meet you. I am not sure whether your phone and mobile numbers are the same. I have a landline number 0120-2586466, which is not working for a very long time. So you can give me a call on mobile number 33082606. I appreciate that you continue with your "love in the time of cholera", I mean you have not ceased to work for your dreams, my dreams and our dreams. Bihar requires a very concerted and honest endeavour on the part of its enabled sons and daughters like us. Only talks and seminars (I do not undermine them) cannot do alone. It requires some participation, especially to fight the first battle against the attitude that opposes change for the better and to bring awareness for putting development to the place of primacy in all discourses and activities.
dear vagish ,thnks for mails.Atal has teliphone me for Khagria .I have send him aproject.a copy of the I am sending you. my postal addres has changed. Address: prabhat,B,G2VAISHNAVI. PLAZA.Near Dwarika Mandir, west Boring Canal Road.Patna800001.-prabhat
vagish <Vagishkj@...> wrote:
Sorry for cross postings, but Yahoo groups does not seem to be distributing mail to the group properly.
Vagish
Dear Friends of Bihar Chintan,
We have sent a request to a number of embassies in Delhi seeking their help for the flood relief. Embassy of Denmark has regretted any help while the Australian embassy has informed that it is already working with other multilateral aid agencies for the flood relief.
I am forwarding the letter to you and request you to contact or persuade these agencies for coming up with relief for the flood affected people of Bihar.
Vagish K. Jha
An Appeal for Emergency Flood Relief in Bihar
His Excellency Ambassador/ High Commissioner
Madam/Sir
We are a group of concerned citizens who have come together to form an initiative called Bihar Chintan. We are dedicating ourselves to arrange for emergency humanitarian aid for the flood ravaged people of Bihar. Towards this end, we met at the Indian Social Institute, Lodhi Colony on 22nd July 2004. At the moment a team of Bihar Chintan and concerned citizens is in Bihar assessing the damage caused by the flood, the relief assistance required and identifying the agencies, institutions and individuals for the distribution of flood relief.
Although there are numerous reports in the newspapers about the devastation caused by the flood, we take this opportunity to emphasise that the flood this year has been the most devastating in the last 100 years. Almost the entire north Bihar is in the grip of flood which has led to untold misery and devastation. According to some estimates, more than 20 million people in 19 districts of Bihar have been affected by the flood. The official death toll due to flood has exceeded 300. Bihar being one of the poorest states of India can ill afford to withstand natural calamity of such a magnitude.
We are appealing to the govt. to declare it a national calamity. A number of relief agencies are working hard to reach the relief supplies to the affected people of Bihar. However, the magnitude of the calamity is such that the resources are proving to be extremely inadequate. In concrete terms the people will require Polythene sheets to make temporary shelters on the railway tracks, roads or whatever place is still not flooded, medicines for diarrhoea, fever, other water-borne diseases, basic supply of food grain for which Chura (flattened rice) and Jaggery are the most appropriate, Halogen Tablets for the purification of water since the shortage of drinking water is the most acute one, emergency provision of bore-well at select place, some kind of cloth. These are needed urgently for distribution among the flood affected. The threat of epidemic looms large after the flood-water starts receding. The impact of the devastating flood will continue to be felt for a long
time by the poverty stricken people of Bihar but the coming few months will be crucial for them in deciding the question of life and death.
We appeal to you to provide through your good offices whatever relief can be arranged for the flood-affected people of Bihar. We can discuss with you the modalities of the way money and relief material can be reached to the most affected and needy people of Bihar. We seek your indulgence and time to come out in support of such a huge humanitarian tragedy confronted by the people of Bihar. We are willing and ready to come to meet you or your representative at the place and time decided by mutual convenience.
Yours truly,
Vagish Kumar Jha, Cell no. 9868249634 or 9810216943
With Vijay Pratap (011-33444402 ), Harsh Mander (9810523018), Apoorvanand (011-51642147), Kishan Kaljayee (9868452176), Dr. Anil Thakur (9810491822), Prakash Louis, Basant, Hemant, Rajendra Ravi (9818758511), Rakesh Bhatt (986829639) Anil Mishra and a number of other friends of Bihar.
Contact:
Bihar Chintan (Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam)
DA 9A, DDA Flats,
Munirka, New Delhi-110067
Ph: 011-26717813, 26713252
List of Embassies to which the appeal has been sent:
This is the latest from Bihar up to 31st July 2004.
No: of Districts Affected: 20 (All north Bihar Districts minus Saran and Siwan)
Blocks affected 199 (Out of 320 in North Bihar)
Panchayats Affected 2724
Villages Affected 9277
Population Affected 21.18 millions (Total 52.3 million-2001 North Bihar)
Flood Affected Area 49.86 LH ( Total 54 LH-North Bihar)
Crops Damaged Over 13.42 LH
Value of Crops Damaged Rs. 332.83 Crores ( @Rs. 2480/per hectare or Rs.1033/Acre)
No: of Houses Damaged 674,097
Value of Houses Damaged Rs.298.67 Crores (@ Rs 4400/- per house)
Public Property Worth Rs. 391.45 Crores
No: of Human Lives Lost 570
Cattle life Lost 1915
No: of Boats Deployed 7308 (@ persons 2898 per boat)
Readymade food distributed 2712 Tons (@ Rs. 128 grams per person)
G.R.Distributed 9269 Tons
Cash Dole Distributed Rs. Rs.3.55 Crores ( @Rs. 1.67 per person)
Polythene Sheets Distributed 4,21,073 ( Equivalent to 21,05,365 persons)
Total Dry Food Airdropped. 769 Tons
Source: Report of Disaster Management Department, GOB, Dated 1st August 2004.
(Note: Figures in bracket are supplied by Barh Mukti Abhiyan)
There is some controversy about the cost of airdropping food materials. Writes Dipak Mishra of Times of India (Patna-2nd August 2004), “ strange are the logistics involved in relief material to the marooned people in the flood hit districts of the state. Till now relief material worth less than Rs. 1 crore have been airdropped but it has cost the government a whopping Rs. 8 crore, said a senior government official.
He said the cost of hiring army helicopters is around Rs. 80,000 per hour. And with 10 helicopters having already made 416 sorties to 19 flood hit districts to drop food packets till Sunday, one can very well imagine the ‘skyrocketing’ cost incurred by the government.
One would be compelled to thinkthat with the government spending so much on chopper assisted relief work, many flood-hit victims would be benefited. But of the 50 lakh population estimated to be marooned by flood, only 400 were rescued by choppers.
“It is all show business. For each trip, the government pays more than Rs. I lakh for the chopper while only 1500 food packets are loaded of which half the material is lost in the flood water while there is a mad scramble for the other half.” Said Hayaghat MLA Umadhar Prasad Singh…..
Best wishes.
Dinesh Mishra
On Wed, 28 Jul 2004 vagish wrote :
>Friends,
>Please see an article on the recurrent phenomenon of flood in Bihar the possible role of Dams. It is contained in the Dainik Hindustan, dated 27.7.4 ( Delhi Edition) on the editorial page. I am sending the link, but the font has to be downloaded to read it.
>http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/2031_910125,0065000600000007.htm
>
>Vagish K. Jha
>
We have sent a request to a number of embassies in Delhi seeking their help for the flood relief. Embassy of Denmark has regretted any help while the Australian embassy has informed that it is already working with other multilateral aid agencies for the flood relief.
I am forwarding the letter to you and request you to contact or persuade these agencies for coming up with relief for the flood affected people of Bihar.
Vagish K. Jha
An Appeal for Emergency Flood Relief in Bihar
His Excellency Ambassador/ High Commissioner
Madam/Sir
We are a group of concerned citizens who have come together to form an initiative called Bihar Chintan. We are dedicating ourselves to arrange for emergency humanitarian aid for the flood ravaged people of Bihar. Towards this end, we met at the Indian Social Institute, Lodhi Colony on 22nd July 2004. At the moment a team of Bihar Chintan and concerned citizens is in Bihar assessing the damage caused by the flood, the relief assistance required and identifying the agencies, institutions and individuals for the distribution of flood relief.
Although there are numerous reports in the newspapers about the devastation caused by the flood, we take this opportunity to emphasise that the flood this year has been the most devastating in the last 100 years. Almost the entire north Bihar is in the grip of flood which has led to untold misery and devastation. According to some estimates, more than 20 million people in 19 districts of Bihar have been affected by the flood. The official death toll due to flood has exceeded 300. Bihar being one of the poorest states of India can ill afford to withstand natural calamity of such a magnitude.
We are appealing to the govt. to declare it a national calamity. A number of relief agencies are working hard to reach the relief supplies to the affected people of Bihar. However, the magnitude of the calamity is such that the resources are proving to be extremely inadequate. In concrete terms the people will require Polythene sheets to make temporary shelters on the railway tracks, roads or whatever place is still not flooded, medicines for diarrhoea, fever, other water-borne diseases, basic supply of food grain for which Chura (flattened rice) and Jaggery are the most appropriate, Halogen Tablets for the purification of water since the shortage of drinking water is the most acute one, emergency provision of bore-well at select place, some kind of cloth. These are needed urgently for distribution among the flood affected. The threat of epidemic looms large after the flood-water starts receding. The impact of the devastating flood will continue to be felt for a long time by the poverty stricken people of Bihar but the coming few months will be crucial for them in deciding the question of life and death.
We appeal to you to provide through your good offices whatever relief can be arranged for the flood-affected people of Bihar. We can discuss with you the modalities of the way money and relief material can be reached to the most affected and needy people of Bihar. We seek your indulgence and time to come out in support of such a huge humanitarian tragedy confronted by the people of Bihar. We are willing and ready to come to meet you or your representative at the place and time decided by mutual convenience.
Yours truly,
Vagish Kumar Jha, Cell no. 9868249634 or 9810216943
With Vijay Pratap (011-33444402 ), Harsh Mander (9810523018), Apoorvanand (011-51642147), Kishan Kaljayee (9868452176), Dr. Anil Thakur (9810491822), Prakash Louis, Basant, Hemant, Rajendra Ravi (9818758511), Rakesh Bhatt (986829639) Anil Mishra and a number of other friends of Bihar.
Contact:
Bihar Chintan (Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam)
DA 9A, DDA Flats,
Munirka, New Delhi-110067
Ph: 011-26717813, 26713252
List of Embassies to which the appeal has been sent:
Sorry for cross postings, but Yahoo groups does not seem to be distributing mail to the group properly.
Vagish
Dear Friends of Bihar Chintan,
We have sent a request to a number of embassies in Delhi seeking their help for the flood relief. Embassy of Denmark has regretted any help while the Australian embassy has informed that it is already working with other multilateral aid agencies for the flood relief.
I am forwarding the letter to you and request you to contact or persuade these agencies for coming up with relief for the flood affected people of Bihar.
Vagish K. Jha
An Appeal for Emergency Flood Relief in Bihar
His Excellency Ambassador/ High Commissioner
Madam/Sir
We are a group of concerned citizens who have come together to form an initiative called Bihar Chintan. We are dedicating ourselves to arrange for emergency humanitarian aid for the flood ravaged people of Bihar. Towards this end, we met at the Indian Social Institute, Lodhi Colony on 22nd July 2004. At the moment a team of Bihar Chintan and concerned citizens is in Bihar assessing the damage caused by the flood, the relief assistance required and identifying the agencies, institutions and individuals for the distribution of flood relief.
Although there are numerous reports in the newspapers about the devastation caused by the flood, we take this opportunity to emphasise that the flood this year has been the most devastating in the last 100 years. Almost the entire north Bihar is in the grip of flood which has led to untold misery and devastation. According to some estimates, more than 20 million people in 19 districts of Bihar have been affected by the flood. The official death toll due to flood has exceeded 300. Bihar being one of the poorest states of India can ill afford to withstand natural calamity of such a magnitude.
We are appealing to the govt. to declare it a national calamity. A number of relief agencies are working hard to reach the relief supplies to the affected people of Bihar. However, the magnitude of the calamity is such that the resources are proving to be extremely inadequate. In concrete terms the people will require Polythene sheets to make temporary shelters on the railway tracks, roads or whatever place is still not flooded, medicines for diarrhoea, fever, other water-borne diseases, basic supply of food grain for which Chura (flattened rice) and Jaggery are the most appropriate, Halogen Tablets for the purification of water since the shortage of drinking water is the most acute one, emergency provision of bore-well at select place, some kind of cloth. These are needed urgently for distribution among the flood affected. The threat of epidemic looms large after the flood-water starts receding. The impact of the devastating flood will continue to be felt for a long time by the poverty stricken people of Bihar but the coming few months will be crucial for them in deciding the question of life and death.
We appeal to you to provide through your good offices whatever relief can be arranged for the flood-affected people of Bihar. We can discuss with you the modalities of the way money and relief material can be reached to the most affected and needy people of Bihar. We seek your indulgence and time to come out in support of such a huge humanitarian tragedy confronted by the people of Bihar. We are willing and ready to come to meet you or your representative at the place and time decided by mutual convenience.
Yours truly,
Vagish Kumar Jha, Cell no. 9868249634 or 9810216943
With Vijay Pratap (011-33444402 ), Harsh Mander (9810523018), Apoorvanand (011-51642147), Kishan Kaljayee (9868452176), Dr. Anil Thakur (9810491822), Prakash Louis, Basant, Hemant, Rajendra Ravi (9818758511), Rakesh Bhatt (986829639) Anil Mishra and a number of other friends of Bihar.
Contact:
Bihar Chintan (Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam)
DA 9A, DDA Flats,
Munirka, New Delhi-110067
Ph: 011-26717813, 26713252
List of Embassies to which the appeal has been sent:
Thank you very much for the update on Bihar floods.
Sudip R Jha
School of Sciences
IGNOU, New Delhi
-----Original Message----- From: vagish [mailto:Vagishkj@...] Sent: Friday, July 30, 2004 9:54 AM To: biharchintan@... Subject: [biharchintan] Update on Bihar Floods
Sorry for cross postings, but Yahoo groups does not seem to be distributing mail to the group properly.
Vagish
Dear Friends of 'Bihar Chintan',
Please find a statistical update on Bihar Floods and its analysis by the acclaimed flood expert Shri Dinesh K Mishra, who had also joined the Bihar Chintan Fact Finding Team at Patna recently. While there is a need to call the bluff of the government 'effort' there is a greater need to pressurize the concerned agencies to take proper cognizance of the devastating nature of the floods this time and rush in immediate help.
We have received news that epidemics has broken up in some areas. The visit of the PM has not made any qualitative change in the nature of relief as the misery of people is compounding everyday that passes by. ( The Prime Minister, after his visit to the flood affected areas of Bihar on the 27th July, has announced Rs. 115 Crores to the state for relief operations. Any further grants would be made only after the visit of the Central Team early next month.)
For the devastating flood this year we also request you to mobilize individual support. Even if it is small, it has great moral value. Please suggest some other ways that you may think could be useful in this emergency situation.
Thanks,
Vagish
Here is the update of the losses due to recent floods in Biharup to 26th July 2004.
No of Districts affected19
No: of Blocks Affected192
No: of GPs aAffected 2552
No: of Villages Affected8901
Population Affected21.20 million
Flood Affected Area49.16 Lakh hectares LH
Crops Damaged Over13.42 LH
Value of Crop DamageRs. 272.33 Crores
Houses Damaged5.10 lakhs
Value of Houses DamagedRs. 146.26 Crores
Loss of Public PropertyNot Available
Human Lives Lost452
Cattle Lives Lost1669
No: of Boats Deployed6062
Readymade Food Distributed601 tons
Grains Distributed55,950 Qtl.
No: of polythene sheets distributed2,31,776
Cash Dole DistributedRs. 2.06 Crores
Source: Department of Disaster Management, Government of Bihar
Comments
The loss data indicate that all the north Bihar districts barring earstwhile Saran is under the grip of floods. Bhagalpur, in their records, means Naugachhia.This is only the first round of floods in the state and some rounds are still due.
1.The affected area is reported to be 49.16 lakh hectares (One lakh equals 100,000) which is slightly more than (47.50 lakh hectares) the area affected in 1987, reported to be the worst flood of the last century. In that year southern districts were also affected while in this year, the floods are limited to north Bihar only, so far. The affected area data suggests that 91 per cent of the total area of North Bihar is affected by the floods which, obviously, is not the case. The affected population in 1987 was 286.82 lakhs. It is impossible that when the flood affected area is more this year, the affected population should be less, after accounting for the population rise in the past 15 years.
2.The crop damaged area is 13.42 lakh hectares and is valued at Rs. 27232.82 Lakhsimplying that the loss of agriculture per hectare is Rs.2030/-per hectare. This is again a ridiculous figure because it needs Rs 2250/- per hectare only for transplanting paddy. We have to add the cost of seeds and sowing to reach a legitimate figure. Further, what the state means by crop loss? The sum suggested does not match even the input costs on the agriculture and the loss to the farmer is that of his final yield and not the input costs. It is also to be noted that in most of the districts, the transplanting was done with the help of diesel pumps at the farmer's own initiative. The state will not replenish such losses but why should it not include the realistic investments?
3.No: of houses damaged till 26th July 2004 was 5.10 lakhs valued at Rs. 1462.26 millions. This suggests that the average cost per house is only Rs. 2870/- per house. This is much short of the cost of a 10 ft x 12 ft hut made of bamboo struts and thatch. It must be added here that both these building materials for the poor have become a scarce commodity now.
4.Number of boatsdeployed for moving people to safer places is reported to be 6062. Divide this figure by 21.2 millions of affected people and the boat availability comes to about 3,500 persons per boat. That gives a fair idea of how many people were moved to safer places.
5.The amount of grains distributed limits to 55950 quintals over a population of 2.12 crores. This gives a per capita availability of 265 grams per person. Even if one assumes that only the people BPL were served with the grains, the per capita availability will only be to the extent of half a kilogram for the entire period the floods. It is unwise to calculate the availability of airdropped food as its impact is very focused and limited to a very small area. However, airdropping of food is quiet glamorous and is of high advertisement value for the state and it will be of interest to find out the handling cost of such supplies in relation to the impact it makes. Moreover, why this supply is to be airdropped when everybody knows that the places like Kusheshwar Asthan to Naugachhia via Khagaria needs such supplies every year?
6.Distribution of polythene sheets was made to some 2,31,776 families implying that only 11.59 lakhs of population could get some cover over their heads. It also means that only 5.5 per cent of the affected population was covered under this program.
7.The cash dole given by the Government responds to less than a rupee per person.
8.When it was told by the Water Resources Department, time and again, that all the arrangements were made to protect the embankments and annul erosion, why should the floods in the state take such an ugly turn?
The usual carrots of constructing dam in Barahkshetra are dangled once again. An informed debate is needed over this issue since all the Governments since 1947 have done the same. Recently, Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi (5ht June 2004 at Kishangunj), Central Water Resource Development, completed the formality by announcing that negotiations are on with Nepal.
The main trouble this year has arisen because there is no body available to pass the buck of floods in the state. Earlier, it was so easy to chant that the center is responsible for the floods in the state and the center used to safely say that the floods are a state subject.
Dinesh Mishra Convenor- Barh Mukti Abhiyan
C-7 Vatika Green City POMGMCDimna Road Jamshedpur831018 PH: 0657-2362520/2650844 Mob: 98351-41262
Assert Institute of Management Studies 143-D, S.K.Puri Patna - 800001 Bihar, India Contact Person : Prof. Tribhuvan Sinha, Secretary Telephone(s) :91-612-223942 Facsimile :91-612-223942 e-mail:assert@...
Centre for Planning Development & Science, Pustak Bhandar compound, G.M.Road, PATNA-800 004 Phone: 91-612-667536/672958 Fax: 91-33-287 1538 Email: sgreach @sancharnet.in sitasaran@... www.globalreachindia.com Contact person:Sitasaran Singh
Centre for Women's Development Studies(CWDS,Bihar) Dr. Janaki Sinha E-9, Sadhanapuri 6-D Gardanibag Patna-1 Telephone: 91-0612-232228
Childline 24 hour emergency service for children in distress Phone number (toll free) 1098 Contact person:Indu Shekhar
Deepayatan State Resource Centre for A E Budha Colony, Patna - 800001 Bihar, India Contact Person : Mr. Narendra Bam, Director Telephone(s) : 91-612-234542 , 91-612-224181 Facsimile : 91-612-234542
Family Planning Association of India(FPAI,Patna branch) C/O Mr. K.K. Singh Opp. Maheshwar Kunj Apt., Ram Suchit Mishra Lane,East Boring Canal Road Patna - 800001 Bihar, India Contact Person: Dr. Rajendrapati Tripathi, Hony. Secretary Telephone(s) : 91-612-235996
Integrated Development Foundation Opp. Shyamal Hospital Shyam Nagar,Maurya Path, Khajpura Patna - 800014 Bihar, India Contact Person : Mr. Manoj Kumar Verma, Director Telephone(s) : 91-612-288682 e-mail : idfpatna@...
Nidan A1/12, Near Pani Tanki,New Patliputra Colony Patna - 800013 Bihar, India Contact Person: Mr. Arbind Singh, Executive Director Telephone(s) : 91-612-261725
Notre Dame Communication Centre (NDCC) Pataliputra P.O. Patna - 800013 Bihar, India Contact Person : Sister Jyosita SND Chemplany, Director Telephone(s) : 91-612-266332 , 91-612-260111 Facsimile : 91-612-266552
Prayaas 5D/9, Anjali, Opp AN College North S.K Puri Patna 13 Phone: 0612 272429 Contact Person: Mr R S Pandey E-Mail : Prayaas@...
Vikalp 1/42 Vivekanand Marg, North Sri Krishna Puri Patna 800 013 Ph - 0612 268253 Fax - 268253 Contact Person - Sandeep K. Jha Email - sandyjha@...
Young men's Christian Association, Ranchi (YMCA) Old Hazaribagh Road Ranchi - 834001 Bihar, India Contact Person: Mr. Nityanand Naik, General Secretary Telephone(s) : 91-651-201720 , 91-651-316508 Facsimile : 91-651-202471
Assert Institute of Management Studies 143-D, S.K.Puri Patna - 800001 Bihar, India Contact Person : Prof. Tribhuvan Sinha, Secretary Telephone(s) :91-612-223942 Facsimile :91-612-223942 e-mail:assert@...
Centre for Planning Development & Science, Pustak Bhandar compound, G.M.Road, PATNA-800 004 Phone: 91-612-667536/672958 Fax: 91-33-287 1538 Email: sgreach @sancharnet.in sitasaran@... www.globalreachindia.com Contact person:Sitasaran Singh
Centre for Women's Development Studies(CWDS,Bihar) Dr. Janaki Sinha E-9, Sadhanapuri 6-D Gardanibag Patna-1 Telephone: 91-0612-232228
Childline 24 hour emergency service for children in distress Phone number (toll free) 1098 Contact person:Indu Shekhar
Deepayatan State Resource Centre for A E Budha Colony, Patna - 800001 Bihar, India Contact Person : Mr. Narendra Bam, Director Telephone(s) : 91-612-234542 , 91-612-224181 Facsimile : 91-612-234542
Family Planning Association of India(FPAI,Patna branch) C/O Mr. K.K. Singh Opp. Maheshwar Kunj Apt., Ram Suchit Mishra Lane,East Boring Canal Road Patna - 800001 Bihar, India Contact Person: Dr. Rajendrapati Tripathi, Hony. Secretary Telephone(s) : 91-612-235996
Integrated Development Foundation Opp. Shyamal Hospital Shyam Nagar,Maurya Path, Khajpura Patna - 800014 Bihar, India Contact Person : Mr. Manoj Kumar Verma, Director Telephone(s) : 91-612-288682 e-mail : idfpatna@...
Nidan A1/12, Near Pani Tanki,New Patliputra Colony Patna - 800013 Bihar, India Contact Person: Mr. Arbind Singh, Executive Director Telephone(s) : 91-612-261725
Notre Dame Communication Centre (NDCC) Pataliputra P.O. Patna - 800013 Bihar, India Contact Person : Sister Jyosita SND Chemplany, Director Telephone(s) : 91-612-266332 , 91-612-260111 Facsimile : 91-612-266552
Prayaas 5D/9, Anjali, Opp AN College North S.K Puri Patna 13 Phone: 0612 272429 Contact Person: Mr R S Pandey E-Mail : Prayaas@...
Vikalp 1/42 Vivekanand Marg, North Sri Krishna Puri Patna 800 013 Ph - 0612 268253 Fax - 268253 Contact Person - Sandeep K. Jha Email - sandyjha@...
Young men's Christian Association, Ranchi (YMCA) Old Hazaribagh Road Ranchi - 834001 Bihar, India Contact Person: Mr. Nityanand Naik, General Secretary Telephone(s) : 91-651-201720 , 91-651-316508 Facsimile : 91-651-202471
Abhay C Das Software Professional Subex Systems Ltd 721,7th Main,Mahalaxmi Layout, Bangalore- 560 086 Phone : 080-3497581 Native Place: Madhubani
Abhay Kumar System Engineer Alopa Networks Pvt Ltd. #50 Vani Vilas Rd, Basvanagudi , Bangalore Karnataka Phone : (080) 6523828 e-mail :abhay.kumar@... Native Place: Majora Bazar , Madhepura
Abhay Kumar Shrivastav Student Of Law Symbiosis Law College, Pune $ NLS Bangalore Flat No B11, Survey No. 15/1/1B Yashodeep Apptt. Wadagaon BK. Pune 411051 E-Mail :abhaynigam@... Native Place : Hajipur (Vaishali) Phone No :06224/60575
Abhimanyu Kr. Singh Software Consultant AIM IT Shastri Nagar, Patna PH-364103 e mail:singh_ak@...
Abhishek Trainee Navigating officer Shipping Corporation of India Mumbai India-400 021 Native place - Gaya ,Gulmohar,Shivpuri,Patna
Mr. Abhishek Kumar Undergraduate B.Tech. in Electrical Engineering Indian Institute of Technology(I.I.T.) Madras Room#149;Mandakini Hostel;IIT Madras;Chennai Tamilnadu India e-mail:-ee00175@... Native Place:-Chandrapura(DVC CTPS)
Mr. Abhishek Kumar Undergraduate B.Tech. in Electrical Engineering Indian Institute of Technology(I.I.T.) Madras Room#149;Mandakini Hostel;IIT Madras;Chennai Tamilnadu India e-mail:-ee00175@... Native Place:-Chandrapura(DVC CTPS)
Ahmad Ali Project Associate Univ. of Mumbai Flat No. 2/A, GR. Floor, Hawanagar Bldg, Mumbra, Thane- 400612 Maharashtra India Phone : (022) 5462431 e-mail : ahmadalig@... Native Place : Raxaul, East Champaran,
Ajay Kumar Software Engineer MothersonSumi INfotech.com B-7,Sector-7,Noida UttarPradesh INDIA 91-4443075/78/79 Extn. 213 ajay.kumar@..., ajayakm@... Native Place : Bodhgaya , Dist. Gaya
Ajay Kumar Tripathi Advocate, Patna High Court Standing Counsel, Govt. of India Patna High Court Patna-800001 Bihar Telephone 227160 Native Place :Bokaro Steel City
Ajay Maitin CEO Graphic Trades First floor, Tarkeshwari Market, Nayatola, Patna Phone : 91 612 671740 / 686157 Native Place:Patna
Dr A.K. Sinha Ophthalmologist Head of The Dept(Eye) B.C.C.L., Central Hospital. 21, Old colony, P.o. Jagjiwan Nagar, DHANBAD Jharkhand Phone : 91-326-203067 e-mail : draks49@... Native Place: Buxar
Amar Kumar Verma Senior Faculty Central Bank Officer's Training College Block-DD, Sector-I, Salt Lake City, Calcutta. West Bengal Phone : 033-3213284 e-mail : kvamar@... Native Place: Navadih Channan(Banka),Deoghar
Amarendra Kishore Executive Direcor The Indian National Trust for the Welfare of Tribals (INTWOT) 172, Pocket C-7, Sector 7, Rohini New Delhi Phone : 011-7046583 e-mail:amarendrakishore@... Native Place:SOPAN, Gandhi Nagar, Sasaram, Distt.Rohtas
Dr. Amarendra Kumar M.Com. AICWA. Ph.D.(Project Finance) Asst Professor(Finance) Sri Sringeri Sharada Institute of Management, Vasant Vihar , New Delhi Ph- 2043242(R),6140597/589(O) Native Place: Gaya
Amarendra Kumar MBA Marketing Head Digital Shades R-27,khirki extension, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi-110017. Phone:011-6677404(r) e-mail:amarendrakoomar@... Native Place:Gardanibag,Patna
Amaresh Shanker Director Rotary Scholar ( USA ) &Representative Target Counselling Services ( Member,AAERI ) 611, Jagat Trade Center (6th Floor), Adjecent to Hotel Rajasthan, Fraser Road, Patna 800001 Bihar India Phone : + 91 612 223162 & 204294 e-mail : amareshs@..., amareshs@... Native Place: Patna, India
Amir Faizi Institute for technology and management , Behind Meenakshi Temple Bannerghatta Road Banglore-560076 Karnataka Ph: (080)6585737 Native Place: Patna
Amit Kumar Softwatre Engineer Tvs-Suzuki harita Tamil Nadu India Phone: 04344- 76780-84 e-mail : amit-pat@... Native Place: Raghowpur, Bihta, Patna
Amitabh K Singh Agri Advisor Amit Spinning Industries Limited 1 Ratnasarita APPT, Jintan Road Surendranagar , Gujrat, 33A New Marine Lime , 5th Floor Mumbai 20 Ph :02752-37206 e Mail- amitabhksingh@... Native Place: Sitamarhi, Bihar
Prof. A N Sharma Institute for Human Development C/o Institute of Applied Manpower Research Building I.P. Estate, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, New Delhi-110002 E Mail: ihd@...
Anant Kumar Public Health Professioinal & Rehabilitation Psycologist Seniotr Program Assosiate Institute Of International Education, San Francisco, USA. Address : # 243, Periyar Hostel, Jawarlal Nehru University, New Delhi - 110067 Phone: 011-6194764 e-mail: pandeyanant@... Native Place: Ara, Bihar
Anil Kumar Singh, IPS DIG 402,Nilgiri Bhawan, West Boring Canal Road, Patna-800001 TEL - 0612-266513 Native Place: Badgaon, Gaya
Animesh Shanker Software turned Management Professional East of Jahaji Kothi, Sheopur, Mahendru, Patna 800006 Bihar Phone: + 91 612 687915 Native Place: Patna
Anajni Kumar Srivastava Web designer/developer Hashmi International Chandmari ekauna , motihari Bihar e-mail-anjani22578@... Native Place:-Motihari,E.Champaran
Ankur Das Gupta Marketing Consultant, Europe Information Technology/ Softwares Duncan Infotech 7th Floor Saptagiri Towers, Begumpet, Hyderabad 16 Phone No : 91-40-7769193/4/5/6 Native Place : Ranchi
Apurva Agarwal Advocate 93A, R. K. Avenue, Rajendra Nagar, Patna -800 016 Phone - 672084
Arbind Kumar Computer Professional Jagjiwan Nagar Dhanbad Phone:- 203674
Arvind K. Jha Research Scholar. Indira Gandhi Institute for Development Research. Film City Road. Gen. Vaidya Marg. Goregaon (east) Mumbai 65 Ph.+91-22-8400919/20/21 Extn. Res.663 off. 593. Native Place. Singhnan Jagdishpur Bhagalpur.
Arvind N. Das Editor, Biblio D 6/34 Vasant Vihar IInd Floor New Delhi-110057
Arun Kumar Sinha,IPS Commissioner of Police Trivandrum City Kerala
Arvind kumar Student A-45 2nd floor,south devli road krishna park Khanpur new delhi--62 India phone--(011)6086306 e-mail----arvind125@... Native Place--Chintamanpur kash,East champaran, Motihari
Arvind Kumar Army Officer Lt Col ASDC ASDC, Signals Enclve, Rao Tularam Marg, New Delhi-110010 Phone 5693748 e-mail- maj_arvind@... Native Place: Patna
Ashfaque Ahmed Khan Manager Business Devlopment Ogden Energy Asia Pacific Ltd MRD Road, Chandmari, Guwahati, Assam Phone: 09864026401 Native Place: Vill-Kundwa, Kesaria, East Champaran
Dr Ashok Kumar, Technical Officer, Council of Science & Tecjnology 13-B, Rajendra Nagar, Patna - 800 016, Bihar, Phone: 0612- 227696/ 226497 (O)/ 689001(R), Native Place: Sakraurha (Jehanabad)
Ashok Mishra Director,M. K. Trading Company. Kailash Colony , Modinagar, Ghaziabad . Phone : 01232-43505/47413 Native Place: Bagaha, West Champaran
Ashok Upadhyay Journilist Associate Producer United Television 5, Panchsheel Community Centre New Delhi Phone-6496455, 6491909 Native Place: Kesath, Buxar
Ashutosh Choudhary Nispakash Jansansar 8 shri krishna society amli Silvassa Dadra and Nagar Haveli Pin-396230 Ph-0260642362 Native place:Kurson Nadiyami,Darbhanga
Asif Ahmad VLSI design engg. Senior Design Engg. Analog Devices India Pvt.Ltd. 225, B1, Netravati Block, NGHC, Kormangla, Bangalore Phone : 5700261 e-mail : asif_ahmad@... Native Place: Patna
Atanu Das Finance & Accounts Asstt Manager Reliance Infocom/Reliance Reliance Centre, Mumbai Maharashtra e-mail atanudj@... Native Place: Ranchi
Atif Imam Student of Computer Science Engineering S/O Dr. S. Ali Imam "Rawaq", Jamun Gali Bhawar Pokhar Patna - 800004 Bihar, India Native Place: Quazi Tola, Arrah
Atul Vatsyayan Software Engineer IBM Global Services India IBM, Subramanya Arcade, Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore Karnataka India Phone: 2063794 e-mail: vatul@... Native Place: Patna
Avinash Kumar Software Engineer Infosys Technologies, Pune Infotech Park, Plot no. 1, Hinjewadi, Pune-21 Tel (+91-2139-32800) x 4166 Email: tiwary_avinash@... Native Place:: Vill. -Tiwaripur, Dist.-Buxar
Azmat Kamal Sr.Engineer -Civil Idea Cellular Limited A-30, Mohan Cooperative Industrial Estate, Mathura Road, New Delhi, 110 025 Phone :9891005354 e-mail : azmat.kamal@... Native Place:Chandwara, Muzaffarpur, Bihar
Binod Kumar Mishra Research Officer Govt. of India New Delhi 128-C, Kanchanjunga Apartments Sector-53 Noida-201301 Tel:4581820 Native Place : Bhagalpur
Bipin Kumar Gupta, Clerk Ministry of Labour New Delhi Ph: 3717184 Native Place: village& Po - Deo, Via tarari, Distt Bhojpur
Birendra Kumar Chaudhary Journalist Researcher Infotainment Television B-3/70 Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi-110029 Phone:6100044/77(o)6853814(R) e-mail:bkchaudhary@... Native Place:Belam/Madhubani
Prof. C P Thakur(former MP) Faculty of Management Studies University of Delhi 34, Media Center Campus Nathupur, Gurgaon Haryana
Chandi Prasad Ojha Software Professional National InformaticCentre(NIC) CGO Complex, LOdhi Road, New Delhi. C/o - Shri Rajkumar Ojha Native place: Vill: Nawadih,post:Sandaur Thana: Bihiya, Distt:Arrah (Bhojpur)
Dr. Dalip Kumar Consultant National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) Parisila Bhawan, 11 Indraprastha Estate, New Delhi-110002., Phone: +91-11-331 7860-68, Extn.370
Danish Nadeem BIT (bachelors of information technology) 3rd year student Jamia Millia Islamia University New Delhi-110025 Native place: Chandwara, Muzaffarpur Phone number: 0621-264530
Dilip Kumar Jha Software Eng. Teoranta C-89-90 Ugrasain Park Najafgarh New Delhi -43 Phone : 5011907 Native Place: Jai Nagar, Madhubani(parwa)
Dilip Kumar Gain, C/o- "Mandap" 235- New Arya Nagar, Ghaziabad (UP). vill-Banaul , Sitamarhi
Dinesh Kumar Agrawal Customs Appraiser Custom House, Chennai 5 Daly St, Choolai, Chennai Tamilnadu Native Place:Araria Court,Bihar
Dipak Kr Goswami Manager The British Library B P Koirala Marg (Bank Road) Patna 800001 India Native Place: Naihati, 24 Parganas, W Bengal
Divyanshu Sharma CIBA VISION ASM,Mumbai 286, Jolly Centre Tilak Road, Santacruz(W) Mumbai 400 054 Native Place : Dhanbad
Er. Kunal Research Associate School Of Management, Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai Powai 400076 Maharashtra Phone : 91(022)5767781 Native Place:Doman Bigha, Hasua,Nawadah
Dr.Ganesh Prasad Singh Doctor(Lecturer Of Medicine) Patna Medical College Hospital 23,MCPW,PMCH Patna Ph:0612-667372 Native place:Vill-Chanda,P.S.-Obra,Aurangabad
GAURAV RAVISH BUSINESS MANAGING DIRECTOR GAURAV FOREX COMPANY PVT. LTD UB-23,INDRAPRAKASH BUILDING , 21-BARAKHAMBA ROAD, NEW-DELHI -110001. TEL -91-11-3351106,3353117,3353118. E-Mail-gauravravish@... Native Place-- Patna
Er.Haresh Prasad Singh Senior Marine Engineer Anglo Eastern Ship Mant Ltd,Hong Kong. Chandra Kona Road,midnapore (West Bengal), India Ph:91-3227-82504 Native Place:Chanda(Obra,Aurangabad
Harshvardhan Jha Journalist Producer/Director News and Entertainment Television Kotla Mubarakpur South Extension Delhi Ph. 4691916 Bokaro-Steel-City
Dr Himanshu Madhav Doctor D.D.U.Hospital New Delhi INDIA Native Place;R.nagar (Patna)
Jivesh Kumar Singh Production Manager Second Sight Educations Pvt. Ltd. 258, Saidullajab, West-End Marg, Merauli-Badarpur Road, New Delhi - 110030 Phone : 011-6531288, 6531290 Native Place : Hajipur, Vaishali.
K N SINGH Commputer Faculty BELTRON ICT,IGNOU C/o Sheojee Singh, Hanuman Nagar, Punaichak, Patna-23 Phone :0612-282614 Native Place : Patna
K Prabhakar Vice President K.S.Infotech Ltd 233.Kuber Complex New Link Road (Andheri-W) Mumbai 400 053 Tel: 91 22 639 3619/20 Native Place: Gopalganj/Patna
K R Raman Junior Hindi Translator Ministry of Labour 124-a,Hindi unit, M/O labour, s.s.bhawan,Rafi Marg, New Delhi-110001 Phone:3001135(o) e-mail:krraman1@..., Native Place:Banmankhi, Purnea
Kamlesh K. Singh Assistant Editor, The Asian Age Sambhaav House, Opp. Chief Justice's Bungalow Satellite Ahmedabad-380 015 Phone: 079-6759328
Kamlesh Pandey Govt. Officer Central govt., Ministry of Commerce 510, Udyog Bhavan , New Delhi Native Place: Sareyan (hanumangadhi),Gopalganj
Manoj kumar Mining engineer and web devloper SKYWEB INDIA PVT.LTD A-45 2nd floor,south devli road krishna park Khanpur new delhi--62 Phone--(011)6086306 e-mail----dipuplus@... Native Place--Chintamanpur kash, East champaran Motihari
Manoj Kumar Centre Head(IT) Target Computer Academy Opp. Punjab National Bank, G. T. Road, Modi Nagar Uttar Pradesh Phone : 01232-47736 Native Place: Siwan, Bihar
Manoj K Agrawal Material Management Mining Industry 31/458, N C Colony, HOSPET Karnataka India Phone – 08394-23200 e-mail – manojagru@... Native Place: Narakatiaganj, West Champaran
Manoj Kumar Chaudhary Computer Operator/Programmer Bhagwati Micro Measurements P. Ltd. 4769, Old Post Office Building, Hauz Qazi, Delhi- 6 Phone: 3219311, 3211179 Native Place: Vill-Godhanpur, Jhanjharpur, Madhubani
Manoj Thakur General Management President & CEO Nucleus Netsoft & GIS India Ltd Nucleus House, Saki Vihar Road, Andheri East, Mumbai 400072 Maharashtra India Phone : +91.22.857.6916 e-mail : manoj.thakur@... Native Place: Sitamarhi
Manoranjan Kumar Singh Staff Scientist National Centre for Software Technology 68 Electronic City, Bangalore Karnataka Phone - 8520239 Native Place: Ramdauli, Biddupur, Vaishali
Md.Raashid Zahiri MBA K.J.Somaiya Hostel, Room no. 309, Vidyavihar, Mumbai-400077 India PHONE:9869129128 E-mail :raashid@... Native Place- Barh,Patna
MD.Shahid Akhlaque B.Tech (Electrical 2nd year) Jamia Millia Islamia University New Delhi 110025 Phone:011 6313378 Native place: Balha,Darbhanga
Mihir Lochan Saran Editorial Co-ordinator Chip Magazine III floor, 210, Dr. D.N.Road. Mumbai - 400001 (Maharashtra) Ph:022-2072044 to 47
Mili Social worker Indianngos.com Prasad, Ghantali' Naupada, Thane PH: 022-5348905
Mithilesh Kumar Jha Senior Project Manager EPC ( Engineering, procurement, construction) Consultant Jones Lang Lasalle, New Delhi 212, Janaki Aptts, Plot No. 7, Sector-22, Dwarka, New Delhi - 110045 NCT Delhi Phone : +91-11-508-8625, +91- 98101-27419 Native Place : Rahua Sangram, Madhepur, Madhubani
Mohammad Ayaz Alam Student,Deptt. of Earth Sciences, IIT Bombay. 284/H3, IIT Bombay, Powai, Mumbai_400076 Maharashtra Phone: (022)5720719 Native Place: At & PO_Pipra Latif, Khagaria
Mohd Nazar Alam student B-tech(mech)final year jamia millia islamia n-25,sailing club lane -2, jamia nagar Delhi phone:011-6319084 e mail:nazar_alam@... Native Place:bihar sharif (nalanda)
Moni Shahi Course Coordinator All India Management Association 506,SBI Flats, G-Block,East of Kailash, New Delhi- 110065
Navin Kumar Singh System Analyst National Institute of Public Finance na Policy 18/2, Satsang Vihar Marg Special Institutional Area New Delhi 110067 India Ph: 011-6569303(o) Native place:Vill: Baranti/Bidupur/Vaishali (Hajipur)
Pankaj Kumar Mechanical Engineer Scientific Officer Centre For Advanced Technology, Department of Atomic Energy Govt. Of India G-15 / MIA Building, CAT Indore - 452013 Phone - 0731-488564 (O), 321019 (R) Native Place : Patahi, MuzaffarPur
Papu Rai Software Engineer CoSystems India Pvt. Ltd. 562/640, 2nd floor, Janardhan towers, Bilekahalli, Bannerghatta Road Bangaore Phone : 6781612 Native place : BanshiBatarahan, Gopalganj
Prabhat Ranjan Manager India Infoline.com 608, 3/B, Dheeraj Valley, Near Sai Baba Complex, Western Express Highway Goregaon (E), Mumbai - 400 063 Maharastra Phone : 8785000/7000 Native Place: : Muzaffarpur
Pradeep Sinha Deputy General Manager Marubeni India Ltd. Mittal Chambers, 2nd Floor,Nariman Point, MUMBAI -21 Maharashtra Phone :(91-22) 2301465-66-67 Native Place:Banjari Road,Gopalganj
Pramod Kumar Service (IT Professional) Metamor Global Solutions Ltd. A-19, Kirpal Apts, 44, I P Extn., Patparganj, Delhi - 110 092 Phone: +91 11 272 0381 Native Place: Sondhani, Siwan
Praveen Kumar Film Maker Director,Andaaz Productions A-13, sai shakti, Sai baba complex, Goregaon East, Mumbai 400063 Ph-(022)8403658 e mail :pkfar@... Native Place: Deheri-on-Sone, Rohtas
Prasenjit Singh Roy E-TV E -1/13 Sector -B Aliganj Lucknow
Prem Chand Kumar DY. Manager(Systems) C&C DEPTT., LHO State Bank Of India Chandigarh Phone: 0172-702861, 0172-646129(R) e mail: premkchand@... Native: Simri(Bihta) Patna
R Athickal Co-ordinator,Tarumitra Ashram Digha ghat Patna-800 011 Phone:(612)266947
Raj Kishore Prasad Govt. Servant Data Entry Operator National Informatics Centre Ministry of Intormation Technology New Delhi Phone : 3012146 (O), 3818606(R) E-mail: prasad@... Native Place : Vill Dubha, Muzffarpur
Raj kishore Rai Clerk Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports Finance unit, Min. of Youth Affairs and Sports, Shastri Bhawan NewDelhi.3382441 shilraj55@... Native Place- Village-Ranni, Bhojpur,Ara
Rajat Pandit CEO Viraj Solutions B-98 Buddha Colony Patna
Rajeev Ranjan Statistician Executive-Product Quality Analysis Satyam GE Software Services Ltd. Centre Point, Edision Towers, Huda Lane, Begumpet,Secunderabad AP India(Right now at Salem,VA USA) Phone +91-40-788 1711 e-mail: rajeev_ran@... Native Place: Dalsingsarai,Samstipur.Bhagalpur
Rajiv Vidyarthy Student, B. tech Vindhyachal Hostel , Indian Institute of Technology Delhi Hauz Khas New Delhi Native Place: Gopalganj
Rajnish Darshan Journalist sr. Sub-Editor The Pioneer Link House BSZ Marg New Delhi Ph: 3755271-74 Native place: Cheriyabariyarpur, Begusarai
Rajesh Kumar Ranjan Software Engineer(Officer -IT) Times Internet Ltd (Times Group). The Times of India Bulding 10 Daryaganj, New Delhi Phone : +91-011-3273418 / 3266081/82/-/.../86 ext 331,332 Native Place:Patna, Jehanabad,Bhagalpur
Ramchandra Senior Engineer Power Grid Corporation Of India B-9, Qutub Institutional Area, N Delhi-16 Phone : 6564751 Native Place : Ganoul, Naraynnpur, Bhagalpur
Ramesh Kumar Singh Scientist "SD" Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (National Remote Sensing Agency) Dept. of Space, Govt. of India 4, Kalidas Road, Dehradun, Post Box No.-135 Uttranchal, India Phone: 0135-744135 (R), 0135-745289 (O)
Ranjeet Kumar Sinha Research Scholar Indian Institute of Technology Mumbai 400076 H-1, R. No- 256, IIT BOMBAY, Biotec center Maharashtra India Phone : 022-25767777 e-mail : ran_sin2000@... : ranjeet@... Native Place: Sansar Pokhar, Lakhisarai
Ranjit Singh Software Engineer Sasken Communication Technology Ltd #139/25, Amar Jyoti Layout, Ring Road, Domlur PO, Bangalore Karnataka India Phone : (080)5547002 e-mail : ranjits30@... Native Place : Amaura, Rohtas District
Ravi Ranjan Assistant Manager(system) State Bank of India(Mumbai) S.B.I,C.M.P, 31,Mahal Industrial Estate, Andheri(E),Mumbai-400093 Maharastra Phone:- 022-8313185/86/87/88 Native Place:- Nalanda
Ravi Ranjan Kumar Student(Software Technology) National Centre For Sfotware Technology Electronics city Bangalore Karnatka Native place: Village: Baniapur, Chhapra
Ravi S Chand Study Abroad Consultant Managing Director Uniplus Consultants Pvt. Ltd 707, Jagat Trade Center, Fraser Road, Patna Phone: 0612 201400, 0612 201700 Native Place: Ara
Ravi Shanker Web Developer Software Eng. AutoMandi.com (www.automandi.com) A-487, Sector-19, Noida- 201301 UP India Phone : 4550693 e-mail : accessravi@... Native Place : Khazpura(Aashiyana), Patna-14,
Ravish Sahay Manager Business Development QualityKiosk A-402,Ganesh Baug,Sector-1,Airoli-Navi Mumabi Maharashtra India Phone : 0091-22-778 1528 e-mail :ravishsahay@...,ravishsahay@... Native Place: Bhojpur, Arrah
Roopa Prabhu Software Professional Clinarium Software 120 A Elephant Rock Road, Jayanagar IV Block, Bangalore -560011 India Phone: (080)-6636785 Native Place : Mangalore,Karnataka
Rupesh Chandra Web Page Designer Design Expo Network Pvt. Ltd. First Floor,Hill View Apartment Majiwada ,Thane(W),400601 Maharashtra Phone: 022-5431889
S B Lal Scientist Central Instt of Agril Engg 2nd Floor, Abudu Complex, 168-B, Berasia Road, Bhopal Madhya Pradesh India Phone 91-755-734701 e-mail :sblall@... Native Place: Madhubani
S K Palit Company Execuitive Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. A-1, Udyog Marg, Sector-1 Noida-201301 Phone : 011-8-4541796-7 Ext. 2294/2215 Native palce : Patna
S S Sah Government Officer Foreign Trade Development Officer DGFT, Department of Commerce Office-Room No-205, Udyog Bhavan, New Delhi Res.-X-254 Sarojini Nagar New Delhi-110023 Phone: O-3013451, R- 4675099 Native Place: Road No. 8 Ashok Nagar, Patna-24
Sajid Iqbal Deputy Manger Human Resources Godrej Pacific Technologies Bombay Phone : 5182441/31 Ex - 1012 Native Place: Patna
Saket Kumar Executive Officer National Open School ( Deptt.of Education, MHRD, Govt. of India ) B 31B, Kailash Colony, New Delhi 110048 Phone : Office - 6228038,6217901, Ext.-51 Residence - 6973565 E Mail : saketnos@... Native Place : Arrah ( Bhojpur ), now based at Patna
Sanatan Section Officer Govt. of India Ministry of Labour New Delhi Phone : 3001174 e-mail : sanatansrivastava@... Native Place: Arrah- Bhojpur
Sandip Prakash B.Tech (Electronic & Telecommunication Engg.) Student College Of Engineering,Badnera, Amravati(Maharastra) Maharastra India Phone :0621-287047 Native Place: Shastri Nagar,Ramna,Muzaffarpur
Satyasheel Senior Software Engineer (Module Leader & SCMA) Satyam Computer Services Limited Tara Heights, Pune Mumbai Road, Shivajinagar, Pune Maharashtra India Phone: +91 (020) 5819686 (O), Mobile :9822301857 e-mail: satya_sheel@... Native Place: Bokaro Steel City, Jharkhand, India
Satyendra Kumar Shukla Training Coordinator Indian Diamond Institute, Surat, Post Box # 508, Katargam, GIDC, Sumul Dairy Road, Surat-395008 Gujrat Phone : 91-261-480809, 481822 EXTN. : 30 Native Place: Pakawalia, MaharajGannj,Siwan
Dr. Saurabh Gupta Technical Director & SIO NIC, Bihar State Unit 3rd Floor, Technology Bhawan, Bailey Road, Patna- 800 015 Phone: 0612 - 220964 (O) Fax : 0612 -220964 E-Mail : sio@..., Saurabh@...
Mrs. Shabina Khatoon 422, G. T. Road, Howrah - 1 e-mail: shabina_khatoon@... Aurangabad, Bihar
Shadab Mujtaba Correspondent ZEE NEWS FC 19, Sector 16 A, NOIDA UP PHONE- 91-4515376 E MAIL- SHADAB_M@... Native Place: Patna
Shafqat Nabi Management professional Merchandise Controller, Baby Shop Lifestyle International 84, TTK Salai, Alwarpet, Chennai Tamil Nadu Phone: 044-4982001 e-mail: shafqatnabi@... Native Place:Patna
Shailendra Kumar Jha Journalist Director/Producer United Television 5, Community Centre Panchsheel park New Delhi India Ph. 6496455, 6491909 Native Place:Nanaur,Jhanjharpur,Madhubani
Shailesh Kumar Shrivastava Scientist 'C' National Informatics Centre, Govt. of India Incharge, Chief Secretary's Computer Centre Main Secretariat, Patna - 1 Phone 91-612-210891/226417 Native Place: Anisabad, Patna - 800 002
Siddharth Kumar Student National Centre For Software Technology, Electronics City, Bangalore. Karnataka Native Place: -Bargaon,Koch, Gaya Phone -0612-266513
Sorry for cross postings, but Yahoo groups does not seem to be distributing mail to the group properly.
Vagish
Dear Friends of 'Bihar Chintan',
Please find a statistical update on Bihar Floods and its analysis by the acclaimed flood expert Shri Dinesh K Mishra, who had also joined the Bihar Chintan Fact Finding Team at Patna recently. While there is a need to call the bluff of the government 'effort' there is a greater need to pressurize the concerned agencies to take proper cognizance of the devastating nature of the floods this time and rush in immediate help.
We have received news that epidemics has broken up in some areas. The visit of the PM has not made any qualitative change in the nature of relief as the misery of people is compounding everyday that passes by. ( The Prime Minister, after his visit to the flood affected areas of Bihar on the 27th July, has announced Rs. 115 Crores to the state for relief operations. Any further grants would be made only after the visit of the Central Team early next month.)
For the devastating flood this year we also request you to mobilize individual support. Even if it is small, it has great moral value. Please suggest some other ways that you may think could be useful in this emergency situation.
Thanks,
Vagish
Here is the update of the losses due to recent floods in Biharup to 26th July 2004.
No of Districts affected19
No: of Blocks Affected192
No: of GPs aAffected 2552
No: of Villages Affected8901
Population Affected21.20 million
Flood Affected Area49.16 Lakh hectares LH
Crops Damaged Over13.42 LH
Value of Crop DamageRs. 272.33 Crores
Houses Damaged5.10 lakhs
Value of Houses DamagedRs. 146.26 Crores
Loss of Public PropertyNot Available
Human Lives Lost452
Cattle Lives Lost1669
No: of Boats Deployed6062
Readymade Food Distributed601 tons
Grains Distributed55,950 Qtl.
No: of polythene sheets distributed2,31,776
Cash Dole DistributedRs. 2.06 Crores
Source: Department of Disaster Management, Government of Bihar
Comments
The loss data indicate that all the north Bihar districts barring earstwhile Saran is under the grip of floods. Bhagalpur, in their records, means Naugachhia.This is only the first round of floods in the state and some rounds are still due.
1.The affected area is reported to be 49.16 lakh hectares (One lakh equals 100,000) which is slightly more than (47.50 lakh hectares) the area affected in 1987, reported to be the worst flood of the last century. In that year southern districts were also affected while in this year, the floods are limited to north Bihar only, so far. The affected area data suggests that 91 per cent of the total area of North Bihar is affected by the floods which, obviously, is not the case. The affected population in 1987 was 286.82 lakhs. It is impossible that when the flood affected area is more this year, the affected population should be less, after accounting for the population rise in the past 15 years.
2.The crop damaged area is 13.42 lakh hectares and is valued at Rs. 27232.82 Lakhsimplying that the loss of agriculture per hectare is Rs.2030/-per hectare. This is again a ridiculous figure because it needs Rs 2250/- per hectare only for transplanting paddy. We have to add the cost of seeds and sowing to reach a legitimate figure. Further, what the state means by crop loss? The sum suggested does not match even the input costs on the agriculture and the loss to the farmer is that of his final yield and not the input costs. It is also to be noted that in most of the districts, the transplanting was done with the help of diesel pumps at the farmer’s own initiative. The state will not replenish such losses but why should it not include the realistic investments?
3.No: of houses damaged till 26th July 2004 was 5.10 lakhs valued at Rs. 1462.26 millions. This suggests that the average cost per house is only Rs. 2870/- per house. This is much short of the cost of a 10 ft x 12 ft hut made of bamboo struts and thatch. It must be added here that both these building materials for the poor have become a scarce commodity now.
4.Number of boatsdeployed for moving people to safer places is reported to be 6062. Divide this figure by 21.2 millions of affected people and the boat availability comes to about 3,500 persons per boat. That gives a fair idea of how many people were moved to safer places.
5.The amount of grains distributed limits to 55950 quintals over a population of 2.12 crores. This gives a per capita availability of 265 grams per person. Even if one assumes that only the people BPL were served with the grains, the per capita availability will only be to the extent of half a kilogram for the entire period the floods. It is unwise to calculate the availability of airdropped food as its impact is very focused and limited to a very small area. However, airdropping of food is quiet glamorous and is of high advertisement value for the state and it will be of interest to find out the handling cost of such supplies in relation to the impact it makes. Moreover, why this supply is to be airdropped when everybody knows that the places like Kusheshwar Asthan to Naugachhia via Khagaria needs such supplies every year?
6.Distribution of polythene sheets was made to some 2,31,776 families implying that only 11.59 lakhs of population could get some cover over their heads. It also means that only 5.5 per cent of the affected population was covered under this program.
7.The cash dole given by the Government responds to less than a rupee per person.
8.When it was told by the Water Resources Department, time and again, that all the arrangements were made to protect the embankments and annul erosion, why should the floods in the state take such an ugly turn?
The usual carrots of constructing dam in Barahkshetra are dangled once again. An informed debate is needed over this issue since all the Governments since 1947 have done the same. Recently, Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi (5ht June 2004 at Kishangunj), Central Water Resource Development, completed the formality by announcing that negotiations are on with Nepal.
The main trouble this year has arisen because there is no body available to pass the buck of floods in the state. Earlier, it was so easy to chant that the center is responsible for the floods in the state and the center used to safely say that the floods are a state subject.
Dinesh Mishra Convenor- Barh Mukti Abhiyan
C-7 Vatika Green City POMGMCDimna Road Jamshedpur831018 PH: 0657-2362520/2650844 Mob: 98351-41262
Please see an article on the recurrent phenomenon of flood in Bihar the possible role of Dams. It is contained in the Dainik Hindustan, dated 27.7.4 ( Delhi Edition) on the editorial page. I am sending the link, but the font has to be downloaded to read it.
Please see an article on the recurrent phenomenon of flood in Bihar the possible role of Dams. It is contained in the Dainik Hindustan, dated 27.7.4 ( Delhi Edition) on the editorial page. I am sending the link, but the font has to be downloaded to read it.
With more deaths reported from 19 flood-affected districts of North Bihar, the toll in the current spell of floods rose to 234 even as the situation eased today.
Major rivers though still flowing above the red mark, maintained a receding trend for the third consecutive day.
However, the possibility of an epidemic was looming large with floating carcasses and human excreta in stagnant waters becoming a common feature.
District authorities of flood-affected areas have started sending SOS to the State Government for supply of bleaching powder, ORS packets and halogen tablets to control the possible outbreak of an epidemic, State disaster management sources said.
While Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will make an aerial survey of flood-hit areas of Bihar on July 27, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will arrive here tomorrow to take stock of the prevailing flood situation in the State.
Mr. Vajpayee was likely to meet the affected people at Sitamarhi and if possible also travel to Samastipur and Darbhanga to meet flood victims.
According to official sources, the death toll in current spell of floods had risen to 234.
Samastipur accounted for the highest number of 59 deaths followed by Sitamarhi 53 and Muzaffarpur 31, Darbhanga 15, Bhagalpur 13 and East Champaran 8. Casualties were also reported from other districts.
According to relief and rehabilitation department sources, the State Government has so far air dropped 421 tonnes of food among the flood victims of 19 North Bihar districts, reeling under the impact of worst-ever floods in the recent past.
It said the army personnel with power boats had distributed 21960 litres of kerosene oil, 138017 metres of polythene sheets, 109683 pieces of match boxes and 191975 sticks of candles among the marooned.
Meanwhile, an area of 50.43 lakh hectares has been affected by the floods. According to initial estimates, standing crop worth over Rs 124 crore in an area of 13.84 lakh hectares, 3.5 lakh houses valued at Rs 53.92 crore and public property worth Rs 39.05 crore had been damaged in the current spell of floods, disaster management sources said.
Meanwhile, a Central Water Commission press release today said all the major rivers, including Ganga, Kosi, Mahananda, Ghagra, Adhwarara group of rivers, Gandak, Burhi Gandak and Bagmati were still in spate and flowing above the danger mark at several places along their course putting pressure on the embankments. The 19 flood-affected districts are: Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, East Champaran, West Champaran, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Samastipur, Araria, Kishanganj, Katihar, Khagaria, Begusarai, Saharsa, Supaul, Madhepura, Bhagalpur, Purnia and Vaishali.
(II)
Rabri donates salary
PATNA, JULY 24.
The Chief Minister, Rabri Devi, today donated a month's salary amounting to Rs. 25,000 to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.
She sought similar gesture from other ministers, MPs, MLAs, Council members and others to donate freely to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund in order to undertake relief and rescue operations in 19 flood-affected districts of the State.
The Chief Minister also sought similar cooperation from politicians and NGOs to undertake relief and rehabilitation measures for over Rs. 2.08 crore marooned people of 19 North Bihar districts.
Following the appeal, former Bihar minister Munishhwar Choudhry today deposited his one month's salary to CM's Relief Fund. Congress MLC and AICC secretary Chandan Bagchi has already deposited his July's salary to the fund.
Ms. Rabri Devi said several NGOs and people of the State were contributing generously to the fund in order to provide succour to flood-affected of the State.
PTI
(III)
Flood costs Rs. 20 crores to railways
PATNA, JULY 24.
Even as train service in flood affected areas under East Central Railway (ECR) was limping back to normal, the calamity left a trail of financial loss to railways to the tune of Rs. 20 crores in the form of expenditure on restoration of damaged tracks and loss in freight and fare earnings.
The track and bridge restoration work would cost the railways an amount of Rs. 12 crores while loss in revenue was estimated at Rs. 8 crores due to suspension of services in a number of routes since July 12 last, railway sources said.
Following inundation of tracks by swirling flood waters after 11 days, train services were restored yesterday in meter gauge segment of Raxaul-Narkatiyaganj, Harsa-Supaul-Forbesganj, Mansi-Saharsa and Sahars-Banmukhi-Purnia as well as broad gauge line between Barauni and Katihar, sources claimed.
Repairing work, however, on Darbhanga-Raxaul meter gauge line and Samastipur-Darbhanga broad gauge section was likely to take another two months to complete since railway tracks were washed away by turbulent flood waters and many flood affected people who erected make-shift sheds on railway lines have been shifted to their occupations, sources added.
Bihar today represents a bizarre site. The devastating flood continues its fury and the state government its stoic non-action. Laloo ji has given a radical and graphic explanation of egalitarian and pro-people impact of flood, which takes the fishes from the pond of rich people to the door steps of the poor people allowing them to catch fish inside their house. On the other extreme we have the news that a developmental agency has reached with some help just for the ‘Mushars’ in the flood affected areas. As if this ‘vision’ of Social Justice was not enough, you have the news of bloodshed in Siwan in which 10 persons are mowed down. Atal ji is visiting Bihar today, the PM is expected to be there on 27th . Aerial surveys of flood by the leaders continue so does the sufferings of the people of Bihar. In the meanwhile, the Planning Commission has sanctioned a pittance of Rs 60 crore for three flood-related projects for the state- Bhagalpur, Rasalpur and Mukhama Tal, to be implemented over the next three years.
The immediate task, however, remains to get it declared as national calamity to ensure a long term and adequate relief work for a few months to come. In this regard, as decided in our meeting earlier a Bihar Chintan team of concerned citizens is leaving for Bihar today consisting of the following members: Vijay Pratap, Basant, Kishan Kaljayee and myself. Shri Dinesh Kumar Mishra, an expert on floods will also be joining us there from Jamshedpur. (You could contact the team on the following mobile numbers: 9868249634-Vagish; 011-33444402 - Vijay Pratap)
Please let us know if you have got any important contact or any group working in any area with the name of the contact person so that we could contact them and get more comprehensive feedback and local support. (You may be aware that Bihar Chintan has virtually no resources and the team is visiting bearing its own cost. So any local support and logistical help may be a great support to our effort.)
In the meanwhile, a meeting of some concerned NGOs took place yesterday in Patna to streamline the relief work. The details will be posted to you as we receive them.
Vagish Bhai,
I tried to look at the files which has been uploaded and
unfortunately I am getting some junk. To me, it looks like the files
has been corrupted.
-Punnam
By launching "Biharchintan" site and joining a movement to help ourselves, a dream which all of us had, comes true. WE ARE ONE.
Let us rise above the stigmatized characteristics of "Bihari" who talks of Caste, party, lawlessness, and violence. Think of - How to help the Motherland. You think of contributing in your own way. Let us first create an atmosphere where CHINTAN takes place.
A group based in Delhi has already initiated the dialogue. Take the torch further and PLEASE do not let it die. If the CHINTAN dies, we are dead.
Dear Friend,
I have just seen a promo on Ajtak TV channel where congress spokesperson
Sibbal is talking about the PM's statement where he says that 'main atal
to hoon, bihari nahin'. It is coming up at 9.30 p.m.(15.2.4) today and
again at midnight at 12.30 hrs.
Just hopint such statements get wider notice and get the condemnation
they deserve.
Vagish K. Jha
P.S.
I request you to subscribe to the bihar chintan email group. To
subscribe send email to biharchintan-subscribe@...
I have just seen a promo on Ajtak TV channel where congress spokesperson Sibbal is talking about the PM's statement where he says that 'main atal to hoon, bihari nahin'. It is coming up at 9.30 p.m.(15.2.4) today and again at midnight at 12.30 hrs.
Just hopint such statements get wider notice and get the condemnation they deserve.
Vagish K. Jha
P.S.
I request you to subscribe to the bihar chintan email group. To subscribe send email to biharchintan-subscribe@...
Dear Friend,
Today's Hindustan ( hindi) (13.1.2004) carries an article by our friend
Prakash Louis. Hope, the deplorable statement of the PM is now noticed
widely and gets the condemnation that it deserves.
May I also request you to subscribe to Bihar Chintan email group. To
subscribe you have to send mail to the following link and then confirm
it when it sends you an email.You have to send an email to the following
address for subscribing to the email group:
biharchintan-subscribe@...
It is important to form the egroup to be in touch and share ideas and
information.
Thanks,
Vagish K. Jha
Dear Friends,
Today's Hindustan ( hindi) (13.1.2004) carries an article by our friend
Prakash Louis. Hope, the deplorable statement of the PM is now noticed
widely and gets the condemnation that it deserves.
May I also request you to subscribe to Bihar Chintan email group. To
subscribe you have to send mail to the following link and then confirm
it when it sends you an email.You have to send an email to the following
address for subscribing to the email group:
biharchintan-subscribe@...
It is important to form the egroup to be in touch and share ideas and
information.
Thanks,
Vagish K. Jha
Dear Shukla ji,
When I wrote the mail to you all I was not sure if my outrage would really
make much sense to many. Getting reply from just a few proved me. But what
meant most was the solidarity shown by some of you. your letter in
particular was so forthright and insightful that have forwarded it to some
of our Bihar Mitra. Saying thanks may beliitle the sentiments and concerns
shown by you. What I can surely say that so long as a single voice of
protest rises from any remote corner anywhere, hope gets a wing. And we are
still so many. We need to put our head together and work out a long term
strategy out of this blind alley.
Warm regards,
Vagish
----- Original Message -----
From: "I. K. Shukla" <ikshukla@...>
To: <vagishkjha@...>
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2004 9:57 PM
Subject: hello
> Dear Shri Jha:
> Hope you recd. my reaction to Atal's "I am not Bihari". I was incensed.
And,
> hurriedly wrote you my angry outburst. It may not appear polite. It is not
> meant to be in view of the Atal provocation.
> Yours, in solidarity,
> I.K.Shukla
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Find great local high-speed Internet access value at the MSN High-Speed
> Marketplace. http://click.atdmt.com/AVE/go/onm00200360ave/direct/01/
>
>
Dear Shukla ji,
When I wrote the mail to you all I was not sure if my outrage would really
make much sense to many. Getting reply from just a few proved me. But what
meant most was the solidarity shown by some of you. your letter in
particular was so forthright and insightful that have forwarded it to some
of our Bihar Mitra. Saying thanks may beliitle the sentiments and concerns
shown by you. What I can surely say that so long as a single voice of
protest rises from any remote corner anywhere, hope gets a wing. And we are
still so many. We need to put our head together and work out a long term
strategy out of this blind alley.
Warm regards,
Vagish
----- Original Message -----
From: "I. K. Shukla" <ikshukla@...>
To: <vagishkjha@...>
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2004 9:57 PM
Subject: hello
> Dear Shri Jha:
> Hope you recd. my reaction to Atal's "I am not Bihari". I was incensed.
And,
> hurriedly wrote you my angry outburst. It may not appear polite. It is not
> meant to be in view of the Atal provocation.
> Yours, in solidarity,
> I.K.Shukla
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Find great local high-speed Internet access value at the MSN High-Speed
> Marketplace. http://click.atdmt.com/AVE/go/onm00200360ave/direct/01/
>
>
Dear Friend,
And now even the Prime Minister of India disowned 'Bihari'! Speaking
in Ayodhya he must be in the purest of minds when he declared "main
Atal to hoon magar Bihari nahin" (Hindustan, 8 Feb, 2004, Delhi).
No doubt, the statement is open to many interpretation including the
one that 'we are so relieved and happy that he is not a Bihari'. But
the more obvious meaning is disturbing, to say the least. As the head
of the nation his statement is self evident and for the first time in
the history any Prime Minister indulged in such frivoulous,
derogatory and deplorable statement for a State or inhabitants of a
State, to be more precise.
To brush aside these utterings as 'cheap thrill' of a poet-PM would
be too callous when it comes from the Head of the State. It is in
line with statesments such as - 'Main Mard hoon, Musalmaan Nahin',
or 'Main gharwali hoon Garhwali nahin' and so on. It only reveals
deep rooted parochialism and hatred as the ideological fulcrum of the
political discourse. In a decadent democracy such ploys have become
routine and gets silent approval of the common people. Some times we
are 'happy' that 'we are not Muslims from Gujrat', some other
time 'it concerns Biharis alone' and so on. But here the statement
comes from the Prime Minister who represents India as a whole. This
chauvinistic and parochial statement of PM is unbecoming of the
heighest office in the country. He owes an apology to the nation and
not just to the Biharis or Bihar.
At metaphorical level his disowning of a part of his self which has
been an integral part of his identity so far, is also significant.
Mnay of us would also be hesitant to reveal our Bihari identity. What
the honourable Prime Minister did was only to make it public by
disowning that part of his name which he thinks is a slur on him.
Are we prepared to own up Bihar lost in a dark corner of our hearts?
Or join the PM?
I personally feel ashamed that we have a Prime Minister who
denigrades his own people in public and disown Atal B.(?)...Bajpai in
toto.
Vagish K Jha
Dear Vagish
I fully share your agony and disgust at the statement by the PM. Why
this piece is not carried by other english papers is surprising. We
should reassert our Bihari identity more vigorously whenever and
wherever possible.
Rizwan Quaiser
Dear Vagish ji,
This is reflection of a narrow minded and self centered politician we
have. I think this is time that Bihar should disown him and his
people. Let us publish this statement and its implications in local
news paper there.
I feel proud of being a Bihari. Bihar has produced pepole like us,
our parents and our forefathers. Bihar all have to help our Bihari
friends to come out of the notion of representing a deprived State.
If there is any thing wrong with Bihar, which we all accept, it is
because of our own apathy towards the motherland. Let all of us try
to help Bihar in going back to its past glorious days.
We all are together,
Best wishes and regards,
ARBIND SINHA, AHMADABAD
Dear Vagish,
Why not write a rejionder article jointly in the next BC meeting and
send it
for publication to all newspapers?
Jyotsna Jha, Delhi
Vagishbhai,
Thanks. I am writing a piece to Hindustan. Hope they carry.
Prakash louis
9.2.2004
Prakash Louis
Executive Director
Indian Social Institute
10, Institutional Area
Lodi Road
New Delhi 110003
Tel: 4625015, 4622379, 4611745
Fax: 011- 4690660
Email: prakash@...prakashlouis@...
Mr. Jha,
I have no comments or question as to your feeling or motivation to go
on and spam me!
But I hope you'll be more considerate the next time and ONLY REPLY TO
SENDER not REPLY TO ALL!
There is someone I know of all the people you just mass emailed..and
that is why you have my email ID.......but I don't know you....and
frankly I have no inclination whatsoever...to know you.
I can only imagine...how come empty words mean so much......I don't
give a damn!
So please in future do not email me..
thanks for you consideration
Sameer Chandra
Dear Mr Sameer,
Sorry, for hurting your fine sensibilities! Sorry indeed !! But
before we part our ways let me share a few words. While you are
perfectly at liberty to denounce a concern as empty words, what empty
words can do is reflected amply in your sharp response that goes
beyond and makes one feel 'insulted' for sending some "empty
words". I am still not dismissive about you as fellow human being
and may give you due respect if and when we may meet. And you never
know it could happen whether you like it or not. The world is so
small, Sir and none of us own it. But you could rest assured that you
will not be spammed by me at laeast.
Regards,
Vagish
Did u send this letter to news papers? i think it should be widely
circulated.
Gauhar Raza
I agree and join your rage...
kishore Kumar Singh
Dear Vagish Bhai,
I missed the news coverage of the speech you refer to. But I do share
your outrage at the ridicule, frivolity and callousness displayed by
the Chief Executive of our country apropos the sentiments, identity
and pride of a large mass of its citizens.
The PM is said to be a poet. One expects even a 'pretender poet' to
display some sensitivity to sentiments. I wonder why that essential
quality of the poet betrayed him or has the 'kavi mukhauta' slipped?
They are known to level baseless charges against peoples of all class
and kin to make political capital out of it. One of their lies
against Rajiv Gandhi was nailed by the Delhi High Court in Bofors
case.
Now, by inference, the PM seeks to blame the ordinary folk of Bihar
for the state of affairs they find themselves in. The ridicule and
blame presuppose that the ordinary resident of that State is managing
the affairs of the state and not the state government. Such frivolity
with truth is criminal. It would hurt every Indian's sense of pride
that their PM, merely for a round of applause in an election rally,
stoops to such deplorable tactics.
By implication the PM has also ridiculed and negated the rich
history, tradition, culture and ethos of Bihar and its residents.
Regards.
Najmi Waziri
I AM A BIHARI
I.K.Shukla
-----------------------
That the Crime Minister of India insulted millions of his countrymen
by
disowning a part of his name and thus holding in contempt a
significant part
of his patrimony betrays his contempt for the nation as a whole. He
has not
insulted just the state of Bihar. He has insulted millions of Indian
people
by his crass boorishness. Did he have to declare publiclythat he is a
cultural poltroon? We knew it all along. He belongs to an outfit like
Rashtra Sanharak Sangh (Assn. of Wreckers of the Nation) that is
universally
notorious as a band of uncultured imbeciles.
It would be naive to pretend that it is harmless drollery, a
pathological
condition related to the election fever. In fact, it is a very steady
staple
of Vajpayee's repertoire of cheap and vulgar wiseacres which pass for
wit in
his circle (Vishakt Hindu Parishad/Badrang Dal/Rashtriya Shatru
Sangh))
presided over by Circe.
A poetaster and a lowly demagogue, Vajpayee could not rise above
pettiness
however hard he might try, that is, if ever he tried. And this is not
the
only occasion he bared himself in his full
panoply of obscenity and obtuseness.
Recall, he said a few days ago "Maya to unke pas hai". Amazing his
gall!
This was a dig at the expense of Sonia Gandhi who seems to have
unsuccessfully sought some electoral alliance with
Mayawati. Miffed at these exploratory overtures between the BSP and
Congress, Vajpayee could ill conceal his pique. Maya, in common
parlance, is
wealth, which Vajpayee knows only too well, Sangh Parivar is
engorging on
and swelled with. No political party ever had such overflowing
coffers in
India.
It is these puerilities that continually remind the nation that Sangh
Brigade is a terrorist sect, a communal-fascist gang, which has been
anti-national and anti-social right from its inception, collaborating
with
the Britishers as informers and stool pigeons. Traitors alone could
be proud
of such moral turpitude as the saffronites choose to call "cultural
nationalism". Destitute of culture, and devoted to a decrepit
nationalism of
exclusion and extirpation of minorities, Sangh and its brood will
never be rid of their sense of inferiority and impotence. That is
why, his
churlish resort to a gross rhetorical skullduggery.
Let him be told loudly and widely that he is not Atal (steady). He
is, and
always has ben, fickle and fluffy. He speaks with a forked tongue. He
is
notorious for this kind of verbal acrobatics. Afraid that Bihar may
not be
taken in by the Feel Good/ India Shining stunts that he has mounted
at the
taxpayers' expense, for his party's benefit, and that Bihar may prove
to be
the electoral graveyard for the BJP, Vajpayee has struck Bihar
dishonorably,
pre-emptively, with gratuitous contempt.
The fitting response to his abuse of Bihar is to have BJP draw a
blank in
the LS elections due soon. But before that, let every patriotic,
proud
Indian, living in any part of the nation, singly and collectively,
openly
declare: I am a Bihari.
It does not matter that I accidentally belong by birth to Awadh, one
historically rich part of the
erstwhile United Provinces. For all that, I wholeheartedly announce-
I AM A BiHARI.
I.K.Shukla
Dear Vagish K Jha,
Some three years ago I analysed the predominant fascist elements in
the so-called poetry of this dangerous joker who is our prime
minister.Now he is harping again on
"mandir wahin banayenge".And there are fools who believe that he is a
dove among vultures.How wishfully naive we Indians can be ! Look at
what the media and intellectuals are doing to Blair and Bush in UKSA
and look at us.
Vishnu Khare
Bihar Chintan
Bihar Chintan- is a Chaupal to facilitate dialogue. We don't want to
initiate another discussion/seminar circuit of self-certain people.
What we are trying to do is to create a platform of accepting our
responsibility. When all are engaged in soliloquy- it is a modest
attempt at establishing dialogue.
Like you have in Jain tradition – Kshama Parva, we wish to share
honestly our concerns and doubts - with a view to evolving a vision
beyond individual commitments. This is to allow possibilities of
collective action to emerge. We also don't claim, it can bring total
transformation. But we are aware, at critical junctures even the
flutter of a butterfly can cause an upheaval.
Bihar Chintan doesn't aspire to become another ghettoized
conglomeration of people from Bihar. There are friends of Bihar
outside Bihar also. There are 'enemies' within as well. Bihar, for
that matter, has historically been of a truly cosmopolitan culture
and mentality. It has refused to exhibit narrowness of collective
identity. So much so that Bihar did not evolve any typical identity
as you may have in a Marathi or a Tamilian and so on. What is known
as "Bihari" is essentially a hate identity thrust upon and going
beyond the geo-political entity called Bihar.
A nation within nation, Bihar today is like Barbareek, as it were -
condemned to be a mute spectator of the Mahabharata between the
dominant 'India' and the emerging 'Bharatvarsha'. Bihar is not a
state – it is state of existence or a state of mind, perhaps. Bihar
is a `syndrome' or a world-view. Bihar can be found anywhere or
everywhere – in Delhi, in Punjab, in Kargil, in Meghalya, in US, in
Canada, in Tanzania, in Malviya Nagar and somewhere in a neglected,
dark corner of our own heart.
It is not an attempt to defend Bihar or condemn it. It is an attempt
to own it up, together, in its totality.
It is fraught with dangers of all kinds. It is is not designed to be
a conspiracy. But, by default, if it turns out to be so, no one can
help it.
Bihar Chintan wishes to become a Ghoora (the traditional community
winter-fire) that provides a collective warmth and sparks off many
possibilities.
Your presence will certainly add an intimate warmth! Join us.
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AASRA
India 
A.D. Prasad 
