Flood in Bihar: 80% are Dalits among those who lost shelter, livelihood and life
Tanveer Kazi
Dear Friends,
National Campaign on Dalit Human RIghts has visited 51 villages covering 4 districts and did rapid assessment of floods and situation of Dalits and the relief and humanitarian aid in Bihar on 8 and 9 of August 07. The report shows that Dalit are affected in large proportion but relief has not reached them and if reached it is very scanty.
Among those who lost shelter, livelihood and life 80 percent are Dalits. 60% of the dead belong to the Dalit community - 369 people were lost their life among them 223 were Dalits in 51 villages that the team visited. 308 people were missed among them 166 belongs Dalit community . We were informed to the team that in sub-division of Bakhari, of Begusarai, Chariya Bariyarpur Block, village Basahi was totally washed away. Dalits were taken shelter in dominant castes' houses and in temporary shelters. Some women were reported that they were sexually harassed and assaulted in places of shelter.
Therefore NCDHR and Dalit Samanway are planning to undertake rapid assessment in other districts and set up Dalit watch Centres to monitor relief and humanitarian aid in flood affected areas along with other Dalit organizations in Bihar.
Below is a gist of the rapid assessment details along with details taken from the Secretary, Disaster management Department, Govt of Bihar.
Jai Bhim
N. Paul Divakar
National Convenor
National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights
NATIONAL CAMPAIGN ON DALIT HUMAN RIGHTS (NCDHR)
DALIT SAMANVAY
ENFORCEMENT OF DALIT HUMAN RIGHTS (EIDHR)
RAPPID ASSESSMENT OF FLOOD SITUATION AND DALITS IN BIHAR
Preliminary observations
1. Overview
1.1. Affected area
|
Affected Area | ||||
|
S.No |
District |
No.of Blocks |
No.of Panchayats |
No.of Villages |
|
1 |
Muzaffarpur |
12 |
135 |
713 |
|
2 |
Sitamarhi |
17 |
256 |
667 |
|
3 |
Saharsa |
6 |
26 |
161 |
|
4 |
East Champaran |
23 |
233 |
913 |
|
5 |
Supaul |
6 |
31 |
94 |
|
6 |
Darbhanga |
18 |
8 |
2104 |
|
7 |
Patna |
6 |
26 |
127 |
|
8 |
Bhagalpur |
10 |
18 |
60 |
|
9 |
West Champaran |
11 |
|
213 |
|
10 |
Katihar |
12 |
48 |
68 |
|
11 |
Madhubani |
20 |
256 |
646 |
|
12 |
Samastipur |
8 |
|
85 |
|
13 |
Sheohar |
5 |
|
122 |
|
14 |
Nalanda |
7 |
93 |
375 |
|
15 |
Khagaria |
7 |
69 |
139 |
|
16 |
Gopalganj |
8 |
30 |
75 |
|
17 |
Madhepura |
3 |
20 |
36 |
|
18 |
Araria |
1 |
12 |
25 |
|
19 |
Begusarai |
5 |
27 |
29 |
Source: Report dated 9.8.07, Department of Disaster Management, GoB
1.2. Extent of Damage
|
Extent of Damage | ||
|
1 |
Districts |
9 |
|
2 |
Blocks |
185 |
|
3 |
Panchayats |
1290 |
|
4 |
Villages |
6602 |
|
5 |
Persons(in lakhs) |
140.54 |
|
6 |
Animals(in lakhs) |
3.23 |
|
7 |
Crop (lakh hect) |
11.181 |
|
8 |
Estimate crop damage (Rs. Lakh) |
26307.13 |
|
9 |
No. of Houses Damaged |
125459 |
|
A |
Fully |
41214 |
|
B |
Partial |
84245 |
|
C |
Estimate Value (Rs. Lakh) |
9609.61 |
|
10 |
Public Property Damaged (Rs. Lakh) |
4302.7 |
|
11 |
Lives lost (No.) |
|
|
A |
Human – Flood |
141 |
|
B |
Human – other |
29 |
|
C |
Animal |
102 |
Source: Report dated 9.8.07, Department of Disaster Management, GoB
2. Relief Provided by the Government
|
Relief Provided as on 9.8.07 | |||
|
S.No |
Relief |
District covered |
Quantity |
|
a) |
Ready food |
|
|
|
|
Rice |
7 |
18199.7 |
|
|
Chana |
1 |
4.1 |
|
|
Salt |
9 |
245.05 |
|
|
Chura |
15 |
5592 |
|
|
Sattu |
3 |
46.65 |
|
|
Gur |
15 |
849.45 |
|
b) |
Cash Amount |
12 |
363.01 |
|
c) |
Matches |
11 |
60388 |
|
d) |
Candles |
11 |
117618 |
|
e) |
Polythene sheets |
16 |
35923 |
|
f) |
Food Packets dropped |
5 |
22610 |
source: Report dated 9.8.07, Department of Disaster Management, GoB
3. Villages Visited on 9.8.07
Team visited 51 villages covering six blocks of 3 three district assessed situation.
4. Observations
1. 80 percent of affected people are Dalits. Still water was not fully drained and people were crossing the roads in 6fts water even after 15 days.
2. 60% of the dead belong to the Dalit community - 369 people were lost their life among them 223 were Dalits in 51 villages that the team visited.
3. 308 people were missed among them 166 belongs Dalit community.
4. People were informed to the team that in sub-division of Bakhari, of Begusarai, Chariya Bariyarpur Block, Village Basahi was totally washed away. People fear that about 1000 inhabitants were washed away and among them many are dalits. Among this is an incident where a whole 3-storey building collapsed. All the people who were taking shelter were killed.
5. Many people died because of snake bites and as no immediate medical relief measures were not available for them. Team did not find any medial camps in all the villages visited.
6. The assessment done by the government was not reflecting the ground situation mainly on loss of life and missing people.
--
Tanveer Kazi
National Secretary(Advocacy)
National Campaign On Dalit Human Rights
8/1,2nd Floor, South Patel Nagar
NEW DELHI-110008 ( INDIA)
Ph/ Fax:- 91-11-25842249/ 25842250
Mobile:- 09350183804 09818933034
Email:- tan...@ncdhr.org
tan...@gmail.com
Website:- www.dalits.org