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#chennai #flood
#relief
Chennai tragedy provides many lessons to
the Government and the society. During the Tsunami of 2004, the coastal areas
of Chennai almost collapsed, but the incident certifies that the State
Government didn't try to plan a project essential for disaster management.
Another reason for the State's failure
to conduct relief activities fast was that it ignored the Central Government
direction that there should be strong disaster management measures. It was also
a result of not providing proper waste management measures in par with the
rapid development of the City.
Since plastic wastes and such non
degradable substances were not processed properly the water do not seep into
the interior of earth even after a small rainfall. This was what had happened
in Chennai.
Construction works in wetlands and
mangrove forest areas also led to extensive flood. It is seen in the area where
Chennai airport is situated. That was why the whole area was submerged in
water. The flood in the Chennai airport was also due to filling of marshy areas
ruthlessly. Here even the airplanes drifted away in flood.
The States including Kerala should also
learn a lesson from Chennai disaster. Keralites have the habit of using plastic
too much and throwing away carelessly. Flats and huge malls are being
constructed in Kerala by filling vast paddy fields. So we should take
precaution so that Kerala does not become another Chennai soon.
In Chennai area there were about 800
ponds and 100 lakes. Most of them were filled and permission was given to construct
huge buildings by filling marshy areas. Thus, there was no channel for the
water to flow away. The society also learned that money do not have much roles
during natural calamities and that neighbours should help and comfort each
other during such situations.
"We would have died if you hadn't
come"
A Muslim family consisting of a mother
and her only son was stranded in the first floor of a house. The 20 yr old son
had a high fever of 102 degrees. The Swayamsevaks reached there on time and
rescued them. The Swayamsevaks folded their hands gladly when the mother said
with tears that they would have died there if they didn't reach and rescued
them. The happiness in saving a family was evident in their faces.
"The only hope is in RSS"
Chennaites are familiar with the
tricycles carrying fish and other materials. But, this time the Swayamsewaks
were shifting children and elderly people to safe places in these tricycles
from flood affected houses. An old Muslim man who handed over his grand child
to Swayamsevaks, vehemently told that their only hope was in RSS.
There was heavy rainfall in Chennai and
surrounding areas after Deepavali. The districts of Thiruvalloor, Kadaloor and
Thoothukudy were also hit by disaster due to rain. Even the State
Government machinery stoodstill due to the excessive number of calamity
affected people, lack of relief measures and inactivity of disaster management.
There the RSS workers came forward for
relief measures. They provided full fledged support to the Government disaster
management measures.
The RSS workers, who lent a helping hand
of love and service while Chennai was suffering from the calamity, were
realising the words of late Sarsangh Chalak Bala Saheb Devarasji. While
referring to Sangh work, Devarasji remarked that Sangh is the face of
Swayamsevaks who wipes the tears of the needy and unhappy people.
The history of Tamil Nadu has witnessed
the service works conducted by Swayamsevaks and related organisations during
the flood which engulfed the whole Chennai while the Government machinery was a
total failure.
About 6000 Swayamsevaks actively
participated in relief measures when 75 lakh population was affected by flood
in Chennai alone.
Chennai peoples' life slowly returned to
normalcy as the Sangh people worked tirelessly under the leadership of former
Akhil Bharatheeya Seva Pramukh Surya Narayana Rao Ji, Prant Pracharak Ravi
Kumar, Karyavah Sambamoorthy and Prant Seva Pramukh Ramaraja Sekharan.
The relief measures by the Seva Bharati
could provide food, wool and such essential commodities to the affected people.
A high level official who knew about the capability of Seva Bharati had told
his coworkers on the first day of the flood to "Inform the RSS workers. We
need their help." And the same happened also.
There was very heavy downpour
after November 23.The roads drifted away, traffic came to
a standstill, nobody could move around. Important personalities were shifted to
hotels from their homes for the first time, families took refuge in marriage
auditoriums and schools. The dried up ponds overflowed which led to flood
in different areas. Water level reached even second and third floors of flats
in Mudichur, a place near Chennai and Thambaram.
At least 25 lakh of people stranded in
Chennai where severely affected by the flood calamities. The electricity was
cut off. Even petroleum and diesel distribution stopped. Only 50 tanker lorries
managed to supply fuels compared to 500 lorries before the flood.
The Swayamsevaks started relief works
even during the initial stages of the calamity. In many areas of the city, the
Sangh workers opened relief camps by their own will. The Sangh activists worked
vigilantly providing security, relief and self confidence to the affected
people. The City was divided into 15 zones for Sewa works. Arrangements were
done in each zone for relief management, meeting of workers and collection of
materials.
The four storey building in Purasaivakom
Azhakappa road became the head office of relief works in Chennai. It was
planned that there would be 73 centers and each would have its Pramukh.
Many sub groups were formed to take care
of stay, relief management, drinking water, medical facilities, office,
meetings of workers, collection of funds. Kshetreeya Pracharak Sthanumalayan
and Kshetreeya Karyawah Rajendran were also present to give direction.
Workers came volunteerly for Chennai
relief even without instructions from their leaders. It is also to be noted
that many workers outside the State also participated. The materials collected
from different areas were distributed systematically. A survey on loss took
place and a preparation of tables of essential commodities to be distributed
have also been done.
Largest amount of materials for relief
measures was collected from Tiripur district. Tirupur, the Baniyan city was in
the forefront inorder to wipe the tears of the Chennai people. Materials worth
7.5 crores reached from Tirupur alone. As soon as the news about the mishap in
Chennai spreaded, the authorities of Vivekananda Vidyalaya in Tiripur held a
meetings of teachers and instructions were given to procure essentials,
especially food materials.
Next day itself, the teachers and
students collectively sent 19,000 packets of chappati to Chennai. Later,
Sripuram Trust and certain other organizations together collected 3.5 lakhs
chapatis. An example of some of the very rare scenes was a seventh class
student from Vivekananda Academy, Thirupur, donated his savings of Rs1500 to
the relief fund and became a role model.
Doctors from Kerala and Karnataka also
reached Chennai for service. On December six, RSS workers in Kerala collected
relief fund for Chennai.
In the first phase itself, two lakh
bedmats, bedsheets, one lakh buckets, mugs and food materials were distributed
via Sewa Bharati. Former Akhil Bharat Sewa Pramukh of RSS, Sri Suryanarayana
Rao ji, attended a press meet at the relief management centre.
He explained various services carried
out by the Swayamsevaks. Clothes, candles, match boxes, sanitary napkins,
baniyans and other essential materials were distributed to households who lost
everything in the calamity.
When water entered the house of District
Sahakaryavah Manali Chokkalingam, he took his wife and children to another
house and then he involved in relief measures. The Karyavahs Selvan and Pallam
Senthil also actively participated in Sewa activities. Other Sangh leaders
including Jilla Sampark Pramukh Dharmalingam and his wife also got involved
completely in service activities.
Hundreds of women also participated in
Sewa activities. While distributing materials and food items to the public, a
Sewa worker told them that "you are all our brothers and sisters. We have
not assembled to give or collect alms. Providing food and other facilities to
our brothers and sisters is our duty."
It is to be noted that Swayamsevaks in
Thambaram and Willavakom areas had immediately started the relief measures much
before the Police or Disaster Management team reached the scene. Sangh workers
commanded love and affection of people through their service activities and not
by any propaganda.
In Tamil Nadu, around 6000 Swayamsevaks
in 112 centres participated in Sewa activities. Materials worth around 17
crores including 12 lakh chapattis, 50,000 bed sheets, 20 lakh packets of
biscuits were distributed through Seva Bharati.
A highlight of Chennai relief works was
timely, active and devoted services of Hindu organisations.
The services of other religious
organisations were confined to propaganda. The unique union of Hindu
organisations like RSS, Seva Bharati and others like Sree Ramakrishna Matt,
Mata Amritanandamayi Matt, Jain organisations, Business magnets, was a great
experience.
The telemedicine by Mata Amritanandamayi
Matt caught the attention of many. It was a blessing to many in the City when
the medical intervention was essential. Sri Ramakrishna Matt lent a helping
hand in coastal areas, remote areas and such places where help was badly
needed.
Considering the valuable services
extended by fishermen community in coastal areas, they were invited and
congratulated by Sri Ramakrishna Matt in Mylapore.
The services lent by the Centre, armed
forces, Union Ministers, officials were also appreciated. The Prime Minister
made a visit to Chennai and announced Rs 2000 crore relief package. The toll
collection was suspended for two weeks as per the instruction of PM. Army, Navy
and Air force and paramilitary forces also got involved in rescue operations.
Union Energy Minister ordered to provide
free electricity to TN. Railway distributed lakhs of packets of drinking water.
Telecommunication Ministry also extended necessary cooperation.
All allied organisations like Vidya
Bharati, Rashtra Sevika Samiti, BMS and BJP were involved in various
activities.
Senior Sangh leaders of Akhil
Bharatheeya, Kshathreeya, Pranteeya levels visited the relief centres and
addressed the workers. Akhil Bharatheeya Sadasya Sri S Sethumadhavan visited
Krompet and Tambaram and provided necessary guidelines.
The Sewa activities during Chennai flood
relief measures proved that RSS will be always there to wipe the tears of
helpless people during any calamity and that Sangh workers are synonymous with
charity work.
By K. Padmakumar, RSS Dakshina Kshethreeya Seva Pramukh
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