Bali… PRATHAM October 10, 2008

… no…Bihar! PRATHAM October 10, 2008

Pratham Bihar- Flood Affected Areas Visit Report Farida Lambay & Mallika Singh October 10, 2008 PRATHAM PRATHAM

Contents Satellite view of flood affected areas Magnitude Aid- International & Domestic Government Action Observations Mega Camps Relief Camps General Observations Feedback District Teams District Officials Suggestions General For Pratham Challenges October 10, 2008 PRATHAM

Satellite view of flood affected areas

Magnitude

Aid- International & Domestic

Government Action

Observations

Mega Camps

Relief Camps

General Observations

Feedback

District Teams

District Officials

Suggestions

General

For Pratham

Challenges

The fury of Kosi has left more than a million homeless and scores killed. The Indian government has already rescued half a million people and another million still need to get out. The worst hit districts are Supaul, Araria, Purnia, Madhepura and Saharsa districts. PRATHAM October 10, 2008

The Army, Navy, CISF and various other agencies are intensively engaged in rescue and relief activities. Various national and international organizations have come forth to support the victims. For most of them it may be months or possibly even years before normalcy is restored. For some, it shall never be. PRATHAM October 10, 2008

Satellite view of flood affected areas October 10, 2008 PRATHAM

Satellite view of flood affected areas October 10 2008 PRATHAM

Satellite view of flood affected areas October 10 2008 PRATHAM

Satellite view of flood affected areas October 10 2008 PRATHAM

Magnitude As per the Government of India* (Oct. 7): ~48,42,000 people from 2528 villages in 18 districts affected so far 262 human deaths till date 3,87,189 houses reported to have been damaged due to flood so far 10,32,690 persons were evacuated from the affected areas In 407 relief camps about 4,51,562 people have been accommodated 3678 boats and 177 medial teams continue to be deployed 409 Health Centre have also been opened in the flood affected areas 1975 hand pumps installed in the affected areas Crops over an area of 3.40 lakh have been damaged so far 877 cattle livestock have perished so far Total damage estimated to be Rs. 216.4 crores: Rs. 34.2 cr (damaged crops) Rs. 84.5 cr (damaged houses) Rs. 97.7 cr (public property) * Source: Daily Update, Disaster Management Department, Government of Bihar October 10, 2008 PRATHAM

As per the Government of India* (Oct. 7):

~48,42,000 people from 2528 villages in 18 districts affected so far

262 human deaths till date

3,87,189 houses reported to have been damaged due to flood so far

10,32,690 persons were evacuated from the affected areas

In 407 relief camps about 4,51,562 people have been accommodated

3678 boats and 177 medial teams continue to be deployed

409 Health Centre have also been opened in the flood affected areas

1975 hand pumps installed in the affected areas

Crops over an area of 3.40 lakh have been damaged so far

877 cattle livestock have perished so far

Total damage estimated to be Rs. 216.4 crores:

Rs. 34.2 cr (damaged crops)

Rs. 84.5 cr (damaged houses)

Rs. 97.7 cr (public property)

* Source: Daily Update, Disaster Management Department, Government of Bihar

PRATHAM October 10, 2008

October 10, 2008 PRATHAM

Magnitude As per International Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF, Oct. 3): 4.7 million people have been affected in 18 districts spread across 2,528 villages In five districts (Madhepura, Purnea, Saharsa, Supaul and Araria) people are still living on embankments, roadsides and in sporadic makeshift camps The government has taken up initiatives like measles vaccination drives for children in the state, with 177 medical teams assisting the affected communities October 10, 2008 PRATHAM

As per International Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF, Oct. 3):

4.7 million people have been affected in 18 districts spread across 2,528 villages

In five districts (Madhepura, Purnea, Saharsa, Supaul and Araria) people are still living on embankments, roadsides and in sporadic makeshift camps

The government has taken up initiatives like measles vaccination drives for children in the state, with 177 medical teams assisting the affected communities

Aid- International & Domestic October 10 2008 PRATHAM Institution Type of Funds Amount Funding Mechanism Govt of Ireland emergency funding EUR 350,000 through NGOs Govt of Hong Kong emergency grants HK$ 4,913,000 a) HK$ 787,000 to Cedar Funds b) HK$ 2,126,000 to Oxfam HK c) HK$ 2,000,000 to World Vision HK Govt of New Zealand Disaster Relief Emergency Fund NZ$ 500,000 Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Govt of USA USAID USD2,600,000 coordinated with Indian govt activities Govt of Sri Lanka donation USD 50,000 Indian government Govt of Italy donation EUR 100,000 IFRC Vodafone Foundation donation GBP 100,000 Red Cross Govt of Australia AusAID AUS$ 1,000,000 AUS$ 500,000 to WFP AUS$ 500,000 to UNICEF Govt of France subsidy EUR 100,000 to French NGO ACTED to support 2,000 families for 4 months Caritas NZ donation NZ$ 10,000 Caritas India and Catholic Relief Services (Caritas USA) to provide food, temporary shelter, and essential non-food items to 270,000 people Welthungerhilfe donation EUR 100,000 Together with the Irish relief organisation Concern Worldwide, around 10,000 families being provided with food and other aid in Supaul Govt of Germany donation EUR 500,000 German aid organizations Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) donation GBP 50,000 with Caritas India United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) Donation GBP 150,000 with Govt of Bihar to supply up to 20 camps which currently house 10,000 displaced families with clean water, shelter and sanitation European Commission Donation EUR 1,000,000 UN agencies, European relief NGOs and the Red Cross/Crescent Govt of India INR 10,000,000,000 also 125,000 metric tonnes of food for the relief efforts

Government Action Relief Camps Mega Camps providing all facilities Food to adopted camps Boats requisitioned by the govt to ensure free movement for those returning home 54,230 cattle in 189 cattle camps in Supaul CM Relief fund Clothes, utensils, cash Matchboxes-2,13,162; Candles-3,81,503; Kerosene Oil-1,46,336 ltr Polythene Sheets distributed-1,67,770 Fodder-2,072.40 qtl Ready food distributed- 2,39,700 packets Grains Wheat & Rice-3,16,217.25 qtl; Chana-816.80 qtl; Chura-7,882.48 qtl; Sattu-915.10 qtl; Gur-1,015.92 qtl; Salt-104.45 qtl Rs 2,250 cash Cash distributed– Rs. 45.35 cr October 10, 2008 PRATHAM

Relief Camps

Mega Camps providing all facilities

Food to adopted camps

Boats requisitioned by the govt to ensure free movement for those returning home

54,230 cattle in 189 cattle camps in Supaul

CM Relief fund

Clothes, utensils, cash

Matchboxes-2,13,162; Candles-3,81,503; Kerosene Oil-1,46,336 ltr

Polythene Sheets distributed-1,67,770

Fodder-2,072.40 qtl

Ready food distributed- 2,39,700 packets

Grains

Wheat & Rice-3,16,217.25 qtl; Chana-816.80 qtl; Chura-7,882.48 qtl; Sattu-915.10 qtl; Gur-1,015.92 qtl; Salt-104.45 qtl

Rs 2,250 cash

Cash distributed– Rs. 45.35 cr

Distribution of material- CM’s Relief Fund PRATHAM October 10, 2008

Observations – Mega Relief Camps Mega Camps 40 % of affected people covered Government run- usually managed by an education dept. official Population of 5,000- 10,000 (approximately 30% children) Food, lodging, health, sanitation, education facilities provided One / two families per tent requisitioned by the Army Adequate covered toilets provided Well managed, clean, large kitchens with sufficient quantities Food twice a day No epidemic outbreaks Different departments/ NGOs present to handle different aspects Health- hospital, doctors, regular medical care Education- ICDS & SSA Vocational training for women and youth (agarbatti/ candle making) Veterinary care Recreational activities- large screens, cultural events “meena” theatre Teachers and anganwadi workers appointed (approx. 10 of each per camp) October 10, 2008 PRATHAM

Mega Camps

40 % of affected people covered

Government run- usually managed by an education dept. official

Population of 5,000- 10,000 (approximately 30% children)

Food, lodging, health, sanitation, education facilities provided

One / two families per tent requisitioned by the Army

Adequate covered toilets provided

Well managed, clean, large kitchens with sufficient quantities

Food twice a day

No epidemic outbreaks

Different departments/ NGOs present to handle different aspects

Health- hospital, doctors, regular medical care

Education- ICDS & SSA

Vocational training for women and youth (agarbatti/ candle making)

Veterinary care

Recreational activities- large screens, cultural events “meena” theatre

Teachers and anganwadi workers appointed (approx. 10 of each per camp)

A day in the Mega Camp PRATHAM October 10, 2008

Milk for all children aged 2-5…so what if some are older… October 10, 2008

Food for all… Education for all… PRATHAM October 10, 2008

Camp Facilities PRATHAM October 10, 2008

But the situation is a lot more grim in the non govt. relief camps, especially the embankment and roadside camps PRATHAM October 10, 2008

Observations – Other Relief Camps Private / NGO run camps 40 % of affected people covered Population of close to 50,000 per camp Most have been adopted by the government Food provided by government regularly Tarpaulin/ plastic sheets provided by govt or NGOs etc.- no tents Poor sanitation facilities Health and education facilities meager Usually no separate facilities for classes Doctors visit sporadically Not reached- 20% Villages that are cut off due excessive water, poor connectivity October 10, 2008 PRATHAM

Private / NGO run camps

40 % of affected people covered

Population of close to 50,000 per camp

Most have been adopted by the government

Food provided by government regularly

Tarpaulin/ plastic sheets provided by govt or NGOs etc.- no tents

Poor sanitation facilities

Health and education facilities meager

Usually no separate facilities for classes

Doctors visit sporadically

Not reached- 20%

Villages that are cut off due excessive water, poor connectivity

Approximately, 50,000 people per camp! … Here they are waiting for relief material distribution PRATHAM October 10, 2008

General Observations General sentiment is not despairing as food supply is sufficient and the people are comfortable in the mega camps but mixed feelings as future bleak Frustration levels higher in non- Mega camps Government officials at districts extremely proactive, cooperative Not adequate recreational/ educational materials Anganwadis don’t have sufficient toys hence worker unable to sustain the children’s attentions No blackboards Most children have received writing material but textbooks distributed by SSA, at district level, only in some camps Pratham/ Sankalp volunteers present in most camps to carry out educational activities and to help in general relief and information gathering Thousands of children in the 3-14 age group but very few above 14, especially boys No classes running for children in Std 8 and above except where middle and secondary school operational No planning for the final exams of the older children October 10, 2008 PRATHAM

General sentiment is not despairing as food supply is sufficient and the people are comfortable in the mega camps but mixed feelings as future bleak

Frustration levels higher in non- Mega camps

Government officials at districts extremely proactive, cooperative

Not adequate recreational/ educational materials

Anganwadis don’t have sufficient toys hence worker unable to sustain the children’s attentions

No blackboards

Most children have received writing material but textbooks distributed by SSA, at district level, only in some camps

Pratham/ Sankalp volunteers present in most camps to carry out educational activities and to help in general relief and information gathering

Thousands of children in the 3-14 age group but very few above 14, especially boys

No classes running for children in Std 8 and above except where middle and secondary school operational

No planning for the final exams of the older children

Feedback from District Teams Teaching learning activities and extra curricular activities being conducted by the teams in most camps Feel the need to do more Not too many orphans/ single parent children observed in camps- more information needed Migration to Delhi, Punjab and inter state to Patna etc. People willing to go back if villages cleaned/ sanitised People living on roadside are not receiving any relief Plan International focusing on education for them Cut off villages not receiving sufficient relief AID India focusing on these October 10, 2008 PRATHAM

Teaching learning activities and extra curricular activities being conducted by the teams in most camps

Feel the need to do more

Not too many orphans/ single parent children observed in camps- more information needed

Migration to Delhi, Punjab and inter state to Patna etc.

People willing to go back if villages cleaned/ sanitised

People living on roadside are not receiving any relief

Plan International focusing on education for them

Cut off villages not receiving sufficient relief

AID India focusing on these

Feedback from District Officials Officials met: District Magistrate, District Madhepura DSE*, District Madhepura DSE*, District Supaul Block Education Officer, Block, District Supaul Senior State Official, Bihar (Pandey ji) Large scale movement of people to villages where water has receded, post Durga Puja (Oct 9) to make place for those that can’t as per govt. order Schools expected to restart after Diwali Suggestions accepted to prevent child trafficking for RBCs/ NRBCs for adolescent girls and boys Survey of orphaned/ missing children critical for Residential Bridge Courses to be provided (can be sanctioned within 24 hrs)- RBCs for 3-4 years possible Looking for assistance from Pratham- data collection & simple formats October 10, 2008 PRATHAM

Officials met:

District Magistrate, District Madhepura

DSE*, District Madhepura

DSE*, District Supaul

Block Education Officer, Block, District Supaul

Senior State Official, Bihar (Pandey ji)

Large scale movement of people to villages where water has receded, post Durga Puja (Oct 9) to make place for those that can’t as per govt. order

Schools expected to restart after Diwali

Suggestions accepted to prevent child trafficking for RBCs/ NRBCs for adolescent girls and boys

Survey of orphaned/ missing children critical for Residential Bridge Courses to be provided (can be sanctioned within 24 hrs)- RBCs for 3-4 years possible

Looking for assistance from Pratham- data collection & simple formats

PRATHAM October 10, 2008

Suggestions - General Distribute more recreational materials to keep all children busy Engage children from Std. 8 onwards in classes/ activities/ teaching younger children (e.g. running libraries) Tents to be provided for running of classes, where not available- preferably separate for classes Sanitation to be taken up as a high priority in canal side camps and smaller camps to prevent an epidemic outbreak More toilets Bleaching and purification of water Vocational skilling required Involvement of the community in cooking and care of the camp to increase involvement and independence October 10, 2008 PRATHAM

Distribute more recreational materials to keep all children busy

Engage children from Std. 8 onwards in classes/ activities/ teaching younger children (e.g. running libraries)

Tents to be provided for running of classes, where not available- preferably separate for classes

Sanitation to be taken up as a high priority in canal side camps and smaller camps to prevent an epidemic outbreak

More toilets

Bleaching and purification of water

Vocational skilling required

Involvement of the community in cooking and care of the camp to increase involvement and independence

Suggestions - General To develop modules for all age group- 3-5, 6-14, 15-18, above 18 females (especially related to health and child care) Notice to be issued by Govt. / Labour Commissioner regarding prevention of child trafficking NGOs to partner in creating awareness e.g. Childline, Pratham Residential and Non residential bridge courses and SOS villages / community foster care for vulnerable children Orphaned or single parent Adolescent girls (to prevent potential trafficking) Adolescent boys (to prevent child labour incidences) Lots of work being done for younger children. Focus required on older children to prevent permanent disengagement with education Medium term- implementation of the Jawaharlal Nehru Rozgar Yojna, ‘Food for work’ schemes Solar lamps, woollens, blankets, satranjis (floor mats) to be provided in embankment and roadside camps October 10, 2008 PRATHAM

To develop modules for all age group- 3-5, 6-14, 15-18, above 18 females (especially related to health and child care)

Notice to be issued by Govt. / Labour Commissioner regarding prevention of child trafficking

NGOs to partner in creating awareness e.g. Childline, Pratham

Residential and Non residential bridge courses and SOS villages / community foster care for vulnerable children

Orphaned or single parent

Adolescent girls (to prevent potential trafficking)

Adolescent boys (to prevent child labour incidences)

Lots of work being done for younger children. Focus required on older children to prevent permanent disengagement with education

Medium term- implementation of the Jawaharlal Nehru Rozgar Yojna, ‘Food for work’ schemes

Solar lamps, woollens, blankets, satranjis (floor mats) to be provided in embankment and roadside camps

Suggestions – for Pratham To assist in data collection of children Missing, orphaned, single parent children School enrollment and background related data for all children To be carried out by Pratham/ Sankalp/ other NGO partners/ Govt To enable informed decision making by Govt. and NGO groups Pratham to provide training to ICDS/ Anganwadi workers to help in dealing with younger children To incorporate health and trauma counseling in the current education module To develop modules for all age group- 3-5, 6-14, 15-18, above 18 females (especially related to health and child care) To try and get older children to give their exams through National Open School October 10, 2008 PRATHAM

To assist in data collection of children

Missing, orphaned, single parent children

School enrollment and background related data for all children

To be carried out by Pratham/ Sankalp/ other NGO partners/ Govt

To enable informed decision making by Govt. and NGO groups

Pratham to provide training to ICDS/ Anganwadi workers to help in dealing with younger children

To incorporate health and trauma counseling in the current education module

To develop modules for all age group- 3-5, 6-14, 15-18, above 18 females (especially related to health and child care)

To try and get older children to give their exams through National Open School

Suggestions – for Pratham To engage youth and women as volunteers to keep them active through libraries, story telling etc. Follow up with Labour Commissioner to issue notice to prevent child trafficking ( to provide draft) & letter to be sent to Chief Secretary of state Set up help desks at platforms to track and prevent trafficking Within Pratham teams, identify people that are affected- some assistance to be provided Pratham presence to be more visible through banners- allows for people to contact us, if required More fund raising/ materials- internationally/ corporates October 10, 2008 PRATHAM

To engage youth and women as volunteers to keep them active through libraries, story telling etc.

Follow up with Labour Commissioner to issue notice to prevent child trafficking ( to provide draft) & letter to be sent to Chief Secretary of state

Set up help desks at platforms to track and prevent trafficking

Within Pratham teams, identify people that are affected- some assistance to be provided

Pratham presence to be more visible through banners- allows for people to contact us, if required

More fund raising/ materials- internationally/ corporates

Challenges October 10, 2008 PRATHAM Infrastructure Rebuilding infrastructure (roads, housing…) Housing may be easier as ~70% were not permanent structures and so not dependent on govt. Flood proof housing for prone areas

Infrastructure

Rebuilding infrastructure (roads, housing…)

Housing may be easier as ~70% were not permanent structures and so not dependent on govt.

Flood proof housing for prone areas

Challenges contd. Rapid reactivation of schools on a large scale Prevention of trafficking Disaster Management Cells The red building is their school. PRATHAM October 10, 2008

Rapid reactivation of schools on a large scale

Prevention of trafficking

Disaster Management Cells

Challenges contd. Livelihood Large Scale dependence on agriculture Damage to arable land due to excess water and silt deposits Alternative vocational skills Employment creation This water ripples over once arable land PRATHAM October 10, 2008

Livelihood

Large Scale dependence on agriculture

Damage to arable land due to excess water and silt deposits

Alternative vocational skills

Employment creation

They need our help. PRATHAM October 10, 2008