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Greetings form India.

Nice to know about all the efforts you and your friends are making to show your solidarity and support to the victims of natural calamity in Kashmir. See another copy of the report for your information.

This is a difficult period since it has already started to snow. I was talking to someone from Kashmir just now regarding some walnut and other fruit plant materials that we are getting from that area to support the farmers who raise nurseries in Kashmir through Himalaya Seva Sangh and Himcon (Gandhian organizations that I am involved with)

We also intend to give them vegetable seedlings and saplings to provide them work in their own areas.
With warm regards and best wishes. Amities
Manoj, Shubha and Janki

HIMALAYA  SEVA  SANGH

15, Rajghat Colony, New Delhi – 110002
Ph: 23319685
Email : hss@bol.net.in
 

An ASSESSMENT OF EARTHQUAKE AFFECTED AREAS OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR by Manoj Pande

  Friends I visited the earthquake affected areas of Baramulla district, Uri along with Parwez and Ashfaq from SCI. The purpose of the visit was:

1)       To asses the ground situation of relief operations in earthquake affected areas.

2)       Support on going relief operations by volunteering to in grass root organizations.

3)       Explore the possibility of involvement of Himalaya Seva Sangh in relief and rehabilitation work.

We interacted with the affected population and local NGOs. The list of people interacted is enclosed in annex 1. The observation of the team is noted as follows:

OBSERVATION

bullet Earthquake occurred on 8th October in Muzaffarabad, has done severe damage in J & K also causing loss of life and property.
bullet The temperature in the quake affected areas is plummeting which is adding to the misery of the affected people.
bullet 1300 people have been officially confirmed as dead and 4500 injured which does not include army and police personnel. The death of police and army personnel is believed to be in hundreds.
bullet In all 32,723 houses (31,809 in Srinagar division and 914 in Jammu division) are reported to have been damaged.
bullet Estimated 150,000 people have become homeless in the State.
bullet Immediate needs of the people are Temporary shelters, blankets, warm cloths, water, family kit containing ration, shoes, play material for children, medicine, essentials for women, temporary toilets etc.
bullet Government has not yet completed damage assessment in many villages which is essential for compensation. As a result people are not cleaning their debris. In many villages, dead livestock is believed to be inside the debris causing threat of epidemics.

RESPONSE FROM THE NGOS

bullet The response from NGOs is immense. Basic relief material has been provided to almost all the affected population.
bullet The temporary shelter is going to be a big issue. The winter starts early in Kashmir (first week of November) and the response to meet the need of shelter by NGOs and government is not satisfactory.
bullet Many of the NGOs and government are promoting tents as a temporary shelter, which local people feel, will not protect them from winter because of heavy snowfalls.
bullet
Approximately 30 NGOs are working in the affected areas, prominent NGOs are Action Aid, Oxfam, Save the Children, COVA, VIHAI, VIMHANS, J& K Yateem Trust, J & K Yateem foundation, voluntary association network, Doctors without Borders, etc.
 
 The interventions by NGOs are in the following sectors:
NGOs have identified following sectors to work for relief and rehabilitation of affected population. The sectors are:
 
·         Health and Psychosocial Care
Voluntary health association of India, MD foundation, Action Aid, St Joseph foundation, Aman trust, Doctors without border, NIMHANS, Cancer Society along with other local NGOs have shown interest to work on health and psychosocial care. Action Aid has started training program with local volunteers to train them as psychosocial support workers.

·         Child Protection and Education

SOS village, Catholic Relief Services, J&K Yateem Foundation, J&K Yateem trust, Child Relief and You, Save the Children, Action Aid, along with other local NGOs have decided to work on the issues of Child Protection and Education.

·         Shelter
Shelter is the most pressing need of the affected population.  EFFICORE, Christian Aid, Catholic Relief Service, Partner Aid International, Oxfam, Voluntary Health Association of India, Action Aid and many other NGOs have come forward to work on the shelter issues. The requirements for the shelter are in form of tin/GIC sheets, tool box (hammers, nails. etc.)
 
 Note: Issues such as livelihood are largely untouched by NGOs.
 
Part      2
Operational Strategy
The strategy to work in Jammu and Kashmir has to be in 4 stages:
 
1)                   Relief
2)                   Temporary rehabilitation
3)                   Second phase relief (necessary due to the long winters) and
4)                   Rehabilitation.
Snow falls may start any time, from 1st November to 15th November. All the affected areas received moderate to heavy snow occasionally accumulating from 4 feet to 20 feet. The government and others involved in relief measures are providing tents in large numbers but all such provisions will be ineffective during heavy snow falls. An arrangement is needed that will  effectively withstand the onslaught of heavy snows and provide protection to people and their cattle for 4 to 5 month of acute winter.
 
Rebuilding of habitations currently is impossible; what is required at present is an intermediary stage of semi permanent shelters so as to tide over the winter. Initiatives for regular rehabilitation could follow, once the safety of the population is ensured.
 
Second Phase Relief
The amount of relief pouring in could be sufficient to meet the immediate needs of the people. But their initial enthusiasm is bound to fade away soon; then not much may be forthcoming after about a month or so. However, as most people have lost their winter stocks, and as most will not be able to get any employment during the winter, there will be large scale deprivation and shortages. In such a situation, the requirement of foodstuff will be much larger and acute than at present. Unless appropriate planning and provisions are made such a situation cannot be avoided.
 
 Rehabilitation: The Final Phase
Once winter is over, (April-May), the final phase of rehabilitation with the provision of permanent housing and restarting of some livelihoods will be a critical factor. The State and the NGOs may need to assist in such a situation.
 
PROPOSED STRATEGY FOR  Himalaya Seva Sangh
The response during the relief phase from the civil society has been satisfactory. The NGOs have started talking about the second phase of relief which will continue till March 2005. The areas of intervention have already been identified by these NGOs, which will start from March 2006. The organizations like Himalaya Seva Sangh and its partner organisations should focus primarily on youth, mainly highlighting the issue of employment generation and Peace building exercises.
 
Livelihood is the issue which is not in the priority of NGOs. However we found that Dr Reddy’s Foundation has been working prior to the earthquake for vocational training and have been training the local population in some needed & relevant skills. Their program needs to be studied further. The need is take up this issue comprehensively, highlighting mainly the employment generation for the youth.
 
The reason to work on the livelihood issues with the youth is as follows:
 
·         Prolonged conflicts have affected severely the livelihood of the people. The youth are the worst affected. The earthquake has added to their misery.
·         The NGOs and civil society has not taken up this issue prominently.
·         The unemployment rate in the State of Jammu and Kashmir is very high. However it was reported that it is comparatively easy for the educated youth to get jobs in paramilitary forces but the number of educated youth in the State is very low.
·         The consumption of drugs is very high among the youth. It was mentioned by many people that almost 80% youth of the Kashmir valley are addicted to drugs!
·         The State of Jammu and Kasmir has a good availability of cash crops such as walnut, apples and other fruits. The business is unorganized and mainly in the hands of middleman.  There is a scope for employment generation by systematizing the production and linking the farmers with the markets. This sector seems to have a good potential of employment generation for the youth.
 
Himalaya Seva Sangh and its member organisations can consider the following steps to initiate interventions:
 
·         Partnership with local NGO
It is difficult to work directly in the villages in Jammu and Kashmir because of the difficult terrain and socio-political conditions so it will be useful to work in collaboration with local voluntary organizations. HSS and its partner Gandhian Organizations already have a network of friends which needs to be activated.   
 
·         Liaison with specialized institutions
There is also a need for liaison with the specialized agencies to generate some employment for the youth. There is a great need to conduct studies on the potential of livelihood opportunities in the State by involving various stakeholders, including the local government. This will help to develop a critical road map for employment generation.
 
·         Peace building initiative
Jammu and Kashmir is a conflict zone area . This is an important time to start peace building initiatives amidst the State especially by involving the Kashmiri youth. There is a need to increase interaction with the outside world and their youth. Himalaya Seva Sangh and its members should use this opportunity to encourage the selected youth to attend programs and activities in other parts of India and later organize local and national integration work camps in the State.
 
************************************************
ANNEX 1
 
LIST OF PERSONS AND NGOS CONTACTED DURING THE VISIT
·         Mr Satpaul – Servants of People Society
·         Gunjan Jain – Businessman
·         Ms Lalita Nagar – Kasturba Seva Trust
·         Balraj Puri – Patron, J & K earthquake relief committee
·         Nesar Ali and Mohammed Safi - J & K earthquake relief committee
·         B Rozar Saraf – National Hydro Power Corporation
·         Mr AR Sarkar-Director, National Hydro Power Corporation
·         Dr Virender Mahajan- Jammu
·         Asad Sekh-Local businessman, Srinagar
·         Sazia – Lecturer department of Social Work and Sociology,
·         Dr Rauf – Director Yateem Foundation
·         NGO Coordination cell – Srinagar
·         Sabbir Hussain- village – Basgram
·         Dr Khan – Servants of people society – Srinagar
·         Mushtaqu Ahmad – village Dawara
·         Dr.G.A.Dar – Chairman, The Kashmir Floriculture Coop.Ltd
 
Villages Visited around Uri
 
·         Bas gram
·         Sultan Danggi
I will look forward for your suggestions and comments to help in taking up some programs for the earthquake victims of  Jammu and Kashmir.
With warm regards .
Manoj Pande
Secretary
Himalaya Seva Sangh
Email : manojji@bol.net.in ; hss@bol.net.in

 

 

 


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Last modified: 02/23/11