Flash floods have invaded 15 districts in the northern part of Karnataka. The deluge created by the current floods have severely affected life of the people living in these districts. The relief measures so far received are inadequate to reduce their misery. In most of the villages, 80% of the houses are partially or fully damaged.
In the temporary shelters, life is not easy. The shelters are unable to provide adequate food , unable to meet the specific needs of children and lactating mothers, lack medical care and facilities.
Their fields in which they invested much of their lives and hardwork are completely flooded and there lies a Herculean task in front of them to reclaim the land and make it fit for the next cultivation. It will take a long time to overcome the trauma that the flood has created in the lives of these poor and marginalized people.
Pattadukal village of Badami taluk in Bagalkot district has been badly affected in the floods. People of this village are mostly daily wagers or land less agricultural labours who are mostly depended on single crop agriculture. However few people who live near the riverbanks go for multi cropping agriculture practices.
Ravindra Jai Ram who runs a shop in Pattadukal village rues how the floods have affected severely the village harvest. He shared how the people had eagerly looked forward towards harvesting the crops, as this year had witnessed a good crop as compared to the previous years. He expressed sadness as to how the floods had washed away everyone’s dream of a good production as well as had snatched away the yearly household ration.
The agriculture practice in northern part of Karnataka mainly depends on the rain. Once the harvest was done, they used to store good amount of grains for their survival till the next cultivation. But the unexpected flood not only destroyed their crops but also their traditional storage systems.
“I used to store at least 20 to 25 sacks of grains every year for my use and I will sell few sacks for other purpose. But the flood water rushed when we least expected so I couldn’t even save a single grain or my belongings. It was early in the morning when the flood water rushed in to my house so I carried away my children and rushed off to safer places” laments Ramanand, who lost all his savings and belongings.
If we go deep in to people’s lives, the flood situation in south India will unfold more stories of this kind.
“Now we are solely depending on the practice of community kitchen in the temporary shelters and gruel centres opened by the government. It is the only option left in front of us for our survival. Now it is heard that the gruel centres too will be closed down with in a day or two so that’s also worrying us and we truly don’t know what to do next”, adds Ravindra Jai a flood affected victim.
The situation of the flood-affected communities is a moving saga of pain and despair. Their livelihood options are at stake. Fodder for the cattle are another problem faced by these poor and marginalized farmers. At present they are gathering the left over rotten grains from the flooded fields and drying it to feed their cattle.
“Our cattle are struggling due to this flood situation. We can manage one way or other but we have to find something for them. We don’t have anything else. Lots of people here lost their cattle so at least we have to save what is left. Otherwise our future is going to be at stake” expresses Vijay whose difficulties have increased due to the floods.
Long-term sustainable rehabilitation programmes are needed to help these people to overcome the trauma they are going through at present. Lot of hard work needs to be put in to help them to overcome the present scenario. The current flood has wreaked havoc and inflicted a lot of pain and hardship upon the affected people. Even for years the trail of this worst affected disaster is going to be in their memories.
Stalin. S