Goonj's work in Odisha- Rahat Floods- 2013

1. Rahat-Cyclone
(for cyclone and flood affected people in Odisha)
By
Thousands were successfully evacuated from the cyclone affected areas.
What happened after they went back to lives and areas completely
demolished?

2. Countless people were rendered homeless with massive loss to their farm land,
employment, basic food, cloth and shelter.
The cyclone affected areas were still noticed but a larger part severely affected by the floods
remained unnoticed..

3. The huge loss exceeded Orissa's annual plan outlay
(according to Government information)

4. Houses .. Schools .. Buildings .. Crops … Nothing was spared!!

5. Goonj’s work in Odisha..
Goonj has been working actively in Odisha for many years now.
We have reached out to some of the most remote and
cyclone/flood prone areas over the years through a network of
partner groups.
A large part of population routinely lives in miserable conditions.
The cyclone and floods only add to their challenges.
This time after the cyclone ‘no loss of life’ created a wrong
perception that there was no loss. This in turn diminished the
attention & support of the rest of the world to this massive
disaster.

6. First response to the disaster…
Goonj activated its rural network, entered the field and set up its sub centers in Ganjam &
Balasore apart from our ongoing office in Bhubaneshwar

7. Material reached from all over the country…
Over 35 Truck loads of relief material reached from Goonj’s Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore,
Hyderabad and Anandwan centers apart from the stocks at our Bhubaneshwar hub.

8. Meting with the partners
Village Survey
Small systematic steps…
We conducted community meetings and village surveys for precise assessment of the situation
& requirements. This was a precursor to starting the operations in the affected areas.
Community Meeting

9. In line with our disaster strategy we tried to reach the remote and cut off villages first,
using all possible channels.
So far we have reached over 16000 families in 200 villages.

12. Dignifying Relief
A ‘Cloth for work’ perspective
In this disaster, rural communities of Odisha decided to receive the relief
material by rebuilding their own local infrastructure ..

13. A bridge over troubled waters…
People built a wooden bridge for themselves with their own wisdom

14. The villagers of Elaba decided to pave and repair their road
At village elaba (Resingtal), GP-Puttasing, BK- Gunupur

15. Sheer grit and energy of the local people made this possible
amidst a gushing water spring & a difficult Jungle
At village Jharakana, Odisha

16. The local people got together to clean, repair and make fit to use their
Village -Mankadachua,
GP- Gaudaotha,
Block-Sorada
Activity - Road clean &
road repairing
(120mtrs)
Drain clean -60mtrs
own drainage and road…

17. More than 100 ‘Cloth for Work’ Activities
after Goonj started relief work in the affected areas where people received the relief not as
charity but with dignity !!

18. Some glimpses of
the transformation clothes can create ..

19. Goonj’s Sujni bringing livelihood to women in villages of Odisha
We send cloth shreds to women in villages for them to make indigenous quilts. This brings
livelihood & income generation to these opportunity starved areas.

20. In a Nut-Shell..
 In the first phase, Goonj intensified its relief operations, started by visiting the cyclone/flood
hit areas, organizing local partner’s meet to assess the magnitude of devastation and needs
of communities.
 Goonj partnered with over 25 grassroots organisations to reach as far and deep as possible.
The volunteers of New life de-addiction Center played a crucial role in Balasore area. Gram
Vikas became a partner for Ganjam.
 The main districts covered; Balasore, Ganjam, Puri, Dhenkanal,Nayagarh, etc.
 Over 35 trucks of need based material sent from Goonj’s different offices. (includes ration,
biscuits, tarpaulins, torch, soap, medicines, cloth sanitary napkins, general clothing,
blankets, woolens etc.)
 So far we have reached over 16000 families from 200 villages.
 In the 2nd phase, under Goonj’s Cloth for Work (CFW), rural communities worked together
on reviving local infrastructure; making bridge, cleaning roads, repairing embankments,
making drainage system, sanitation drive in the villages and earned relief material in return.
So far over 100 such activities have been taken up by people.
 Medicines received from Goonj became a good support for local partners to organise
medical camps in Ganjam & Balasore.

21. Way forward..
• Goonj Bhubneshwar office will act as a central hub for identifying
ongoing basic but ignored needs of rural communities.
• Many areas identified during this disaster will receive our long-term
support in terms of material resources. Our focus will be on taking
up other neglected development issues under Goonj’s other
initiatives.
• Goonj’s ‘School to School’ initiative aligned strongly with the relief
process to address the educational needs of children in schools,
anganwadies, formal/informal hostels.
• We will be promoting various livelihood & skilled based options like
‘Sujni’ making on a large scale in some areas now.

22. The work will go on for many months.. Stay tuned !!
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