This document summarizes an inclusion monitoring survey of Dalit communities affected by floods in Odisha, India in 2011. It was conducted by two organizations, Action for Rural Upliftment and Planning (ARUP) and National Dalit Watch (NDW). The survey found that Dalit communities had very limited access to rescue and relief efforts and faced discrimination. It describes the extensive flooding that occurred across many villages in Kendrapara district. It then outlines the rationale, preparation, and process used to conduct the inclusion monitoring survey across 66 Dalit hamlets in 5 affected blocks. The goal was to document the experiences of Dalit communities and how they were excluded from rescue, relief and aid distribution efforts following the floods.

1. Inclusion Monitoring Survey of Flood
affected Dalit Communities
A Survey Report of floods
in Odisha-2011
By:
Action for Rural Upliftment and Planning (ARUP) & National Dalit Watch (NDW)
Action for Rural Upliftment and Planning (ARUP)
AT/PO- Balipatna, PS- Pattamundai, Dist-Kendrapara, Odisha, India, PIN- 754241
action.arup@gmail.com

2. Acknowledgement
We take this opportunity to thank first and foremost, the thousands of flood affected Dalits of
Kendrapara for their trust and cooperation in the survey, the community leaders for their
assistance during the study, the community volunteers and target groups for their participation
and commitment.
We are then thankful to the National Dalit Watch (NDW) of NCDHR for envisaging, handholding
and guiding us in the entire process of inclusion monitoring survey, and the core group
members and well-wishers for their timely associations, inputs and suggestions throughout the
planning process.

3. About the floods in
Kendrapara
On 9th September, relentless
rain and flash floods in a host
of rivers and their tributaries inundated large parts of riverside villages under Rajkanika, Aul,
Pattamundai, Marshaghai, Mahakalpada and Gardapur blocks of Kendrapada district making it
the worst affected district by the flood . A total of 4.5 lakh people of 418 riverside villages were
marooned with rivers Brahmani, Kharasrota, Luna, Paika and Karandia in spate.
Water rushed into 11 wards and 09 villages of Pattamundai. 50 villages of 15 GPs of Rajkanika,
51 villages of 23GPs of Aul, 14 GPs of 34 villages of Pattamundai, 3 GPs with14 villages
of Rajnagar, 2 GPs with 2 villages of Derabish, 14 GPs with 26 villages Marshaghai, 5 GPs with
20 villages of Garadpur, 1 GP with 2 villages of Kendrapara, and 2 GPs with 4 villages of
Mahakalpara were badly affected by the flood water. There were several breaches in
Kendrapara district1.
Most of the areas of Pattamundai block were under flood water with the flood-affected villagers
depending on rickety country boats to reach the main land. The three kilometer-long main road
from Pattamundai to Patarpur Bridge was under four feet of flood water, cutting off road
communication from Pattamundai to Aul, and from Aul to Rajkanika. Power supply was cut off in
marooned areas.
The riverside gram panchayats of Madhuban, Mahuria, Kalarapal, Sanagiri, Narendrapur,
Manikapatna, Nuapada, Auatan and other Gram Panchayat under Aul Block were well under
flood water and all types of communication were totally cut off for several days. On 09th
September 2011, the villages of Gopalpur, Lahuni, Nuagaon, Haladharpur, Hatasahi, Kandia,
Deulatara, Namatara, Jaguleipada, Matia, Langalkhanja, Badiha, Kendusahi, Panki, Gunthla,
Adasahi, Pegarapada and Balarampur under Rajkanika block were also hit by the flash flood.
Water of river Chitrotpola was above the danger mark in Patakura on 9th September 2011. Its
turbulent water breached at least three places, inundating the villages of Garadpur block.
Agricultural fields in Parakula, Raghabapur and Akhua gram panchayats were completely
submerged in flood waters, adding to the farmers’ woes.
Even several concrete houses in Narasinghpur were destroyed due to a breach in the
Chitrotpala River between Podana and Narasinghpur villages (Marshaghai block). Five gram
panchayats were submerged due to the breach while over 200 families from Podana and
Narasinghpur took shelter on the river embankment. Most people were sharing their tents with
their livestock, while others stayed on rooftops of their homes. They had no fodder for their
1 One breach at Marshaghai Block near Narsinghapur village on embankment of Chittrotpala,one at
Mahakalpara near Tikhiri village on embankment of Paika River & another at Garadpur block near Patkura.

4. animals. Besides Raghopur, villages in Akhuapal, Bacharei and Bandhakata panchayats
remained inundated due to the breach even after water receded significantly in the river.
Many places were breached due to poor repair works. Unsafe embankments in many places
collapsed due to previous substandard repair works outsourced to the inappropriate contractors.
Hundreds of flood victims struggle year after year through annual cycle of devastation and
displacement where as administrative officials and political leaders indulge in their own ritualistic
chanting of trying their best to control the situation and requiring more money to provide relief to
flood affected people. Even though the district administration claimed that they had operated
free kitchens and disbursed relief materials in the flood hit areas, it was found that basic
amenities like clean drinking water, food, medication and shelter had not reached most of the
4.5 lakh people affected by this devastating flood in Kendrapada district. Though a number of
ODRAF teams deployed for rescue operation were working round the clock, Government relief
operation through PRI members started in affected areas after 3 to 6 days. There were wide
allegations that these Panchayat representatives used the relief materials to please their own
vote bank/villagers in view of the coming Panchayat polls. They gave preference to their own
people, not those needy. The officials visited the villages occasionally and inspected the
onslaught of flood from the boat only.
On September 24, Kendrapara, which was slowly recovering from the first onslaught of flood;
was hit by another wave of flood for the second time due to incessant rain triggered by
depression over Bay of Bengal. River Brahmani was in spate and water level had crossed the
danger level, exacerbated by release of water from the Rengali dam. Though the Government
was regulating Brahmani flood from Rengali dam, it was not able to reduce the flood fury
downstream. Both Aul and Rajkanika blocks were totally cut up from outer world through road
communication. As heavy rain continues to lash the district, many more were being steadily
rendered homeless as the villager’s mud houses were completely damaged in the rain. Due to
lack of supply of polythene sheets, the flood victims were living in the open and their fragile
damaged house.
During these floods in Odisha, the Government attracted huge criticism from the activists,
experts and political opponents for lack of preparedness, poor management rather
mismanagement of relief operation; politicization of rescue works, relief distribution and damage
assessments; and deputing ill trained medical staff on work etc.
Likewise in other disasters, where relief was distributed, dalits and other marginalized
communities had very limited access and discrimination was extensive. Officials collected their
information from dominant caste and influential people in the village who overlook the loss and
concerns of Dalits. Officers were not found to visit Dalit padas(hamlets) specifically to look at
their issues and their losses were not registered in full. Media and other sources of information
too collected their stories from the more influential and vocal sections of the community. It was
also found that the dominant sections during rescue and relief were anxious to corner all
available benefits and hence did not allow the loss of other habitations particularly of Dalits and
minority religious groups from being registered. These created a lot of implication in their ability
to get back to normalcy.

5. Initial observations of the rapid assessment team:
Rescues operations were limited to road side villages.
No government official visited Dalit hamlets and so far there was no relief provided
to them.
The number of people from dalit communities included in relief distribution
processes was found to be negligible.
Inadequate rescue services and no mechanisms to address the special needs of
women, children and people with disability.
Extent of damage to Dalit houses was much higher when compared to other
communities for their location near the riverside and thatched mud houses
Aul and Rajkanika blocks having highest density of Dalit population were totally
isolated during the flood. For about 20 days, most of the villages in those blocks
were submerged in 6-7 ft of flood water.
About 100 Dalit families from ward number 09 and 10 under Pattamundai NAC
were staying in self made shelters on the state highway connecting Aul and
Rajkanika blocks. They didn’t receive the polythene sheets provided by the
government. The Pattamundai tahsil and NAC office are less than 1 K.M distance
from that place.
Tikhiri village under Marshaghai block had more than 1000 Dalit families who
witnessed a number of post-flood violence following allegation of poor distribution
of relief.
In some of the relief camps, Dalit hamlets reported instances of discrimination in
provision of basic relief aid. The forms of discrimination were in the form of late
supply of food materials, serving of food at separate locations and use of abusive
language during distribution of food.
No privacy for women and poor sanitation facilities caused discomfort to the
women to relive themselves in the open.
With paddy fields and farms under water for days after flood, the victims were left
with no other option but to stretch their hands in front of money lenders.
An increasing number of flood-hit victims, mostly Dalit marginalized farmers are
became debtors in their bid to feed their families. They sold their belongings to get
the food as there were no other ways of earning livelihood in that time.

6. Rationale behind Inclusion Rationale behind Inclusion M Moonnitiotorirningg S Suurvrveeyy
Rapid assessment and reports from the field about discrimination against Dalits and non-accessibility
to rescue and relief operations of the Government triggered off the need to
intervene in the matter. On seeing the grimness of situation, ARUP organized a plan of action
meeting with some Dalit rights groups at Kendrapara on 14.09.11 to address the issues of Dalit
exclusion in rescue and relief. In the meeting it was unanimously decided to conduct an
immediate rapid survey. ARUP along with RISWA and USA visited 35 villages covering 4 blocks
and did rapid assessment of floods and situation of Dalits and the relief and humanitarian aid in
Kendrapara on 15th, 16th and 17th of September.
Blocks, Panchayats and Villages selected for monitoring
SL. NO VILLAGE PANCHAYAT BLOCK DISTRICT
1-5
KALAMADA SASAN
THAKURPATNA-1
PETAPARA
SANSIDHA
THAKURPATNA-2
BHUINPUR AND
SANSIDHA AUL KENDRAPARA
6-8
BADAMANPUR
MANPUR
MANGARAJPUR
MANPUR AUL KENDRAPARA
9-12
DIMIRIPAL
MADHUBAN
ARAGALA
ARAGALASASAN
DIMIRIPAL AUL KENDRAPARA
13-16
WARD NO-8
WARD NO-9
AGADIA
BALIPATNA
NAC and BALIPATNA PATTAMUNDAI KENDRAPARA
14-21
HARIDAS PUR
DALUANI
PALAKANA
BICHANA
NUAPADA
BEDARI and PADAMPUR MARSAGHAI KENDRAPARA
22-25
KAUDIABAREI
RANCHANDRA PUR
ATABUHA
ORRISOBINDHA
RAMCHANDRAPUR MARSAGHAI KENDRAPARA
26-30
RAGHABPUR
MANDIA
PODANA
NARSINGHAPUR
BAHAKANDIA
RAGHABPUR MARSAGHAI KENDRAPARA
31-35
BANDHAKATA
MUSADIA
TELIAKANA
JARIABAREI
ARIMULA
BANDHAKATA MARSAGHAI KENDRAPARA

7. 22. .I nIncclulusisoionn M Moonnitiotorirningg
36-40
BACHHERAI
PENTHA
BALIKUDA
KULASAHI
KARANDIAPATNA
KARANDIAPATNA AND
BACHHERAI MARSAGHAI KENDRAPARA
41-45
DAHALPUR
BEHULA-1
MADANA
GARADPUR
OSTIA
TIKANPUR AND GARAD
PUR GARDAPUR KENDRAPARA
46-49
BEHULA-2
KODAPALI
LEKHANAPARA
PATAKURA
PATAKURA GARDAPUR KENDRAPARA
50-57
BERUNHA
ALIFA
BHAGABAN PUR
HALADIA
KHANAGANA BINDHA
MADHUSUDAN PUR
BERUNHA
AND HARIDAS PUR MAHAKALPARA KENDRAPARA
58-63
AMEIPAL
SARIJORI
BADA GHAI
MADHURAGANDA KHAMARA
MAHANANGALA
AMEIPAL MAHAKALPARA KENDRAPARA
64-66 TIKIRI
NALADIA PALANDA
TIKIRI MAHAKALPARA KENDRAPARA
PPrereppaararatitoionn
Based on our initial observation, findings and input from Dalit rights experts, data collection
questionnaire were prepared. Later the questionnaire was translated into Oriya language.
Before finalizing the questionnaire, the draft copy was circulated among the member
organizations for necessary edit and changes.
Formation of Core group:
On dated 16.09.11, a coordination meeting of member organizations (ARUP and partners) was
organized at Kendrapara. In that meeting it was decided to form a core group. The meeting also
decided on the role and responsibility of core group. These were:-
· Indentifying worst affected villages for survey
· Assisting and monitoring the progress in data collection
· Identifying challenges in inclusion monitoring survey

8. · Helping volunteers in drafting case studies
· Facilitating community meetings
· Organizing meetings with bureaucrats
Identification of villages to be monitored:
In Kendrapara district, total affected villages are 418, out of which 100-120 villages have a
majority of Dalit population. The core group member decided to conduct monitoring in 66
severely hit Dalit habitations in 5 blocks i.e Pattamundai, Aul, Marsaghai, Mahakalpada and
Gardapur blocks. The core group members visited these blocks on 22nd and 23rd September
2011 before finalizing final village list. The criteria for selecting villages were:-
· Villages with majority of Dalit families;
· Villages situated by the riverside and low lying areas;
· Where cases of discrimination and exclusion were reported in local media;
· Where land, crops and houses were submerged; and
· Frequent flood prone areas.
Identification of volunteers:
After selecting the villages for survey and data collection, volunteers and 50 sub- volunteers
from the affected community were identified. These volunteers were identified by the core group
members and activists in the grass roots level. While selecting the volunteer, consideration was
given to their general attitude towards Dalits, their background, educational status and
willingness etc. to participate in such work. At first the preference was given to volunteers, who
belonged to the dalit community, where appropriate dalit volunteers were not available,
volunteers from other caste with sub-volunteers from the affected communities were shortlisted.
List of volunteers and sub-volunteers
is annexed.
Orientation of volunteers:
The identified volunteers were trained
on the use of data sheet for data
collection by the core group members
and experts. Along with the data
collection the training focused on
drafting of case studies, identifying
immediate needs of the community
and helping them to claim their rights
and entitlements. The training programmes were organized in three different places of

9. Kendrapara districts. First training programme was organized at RISWA office on the 18th of
September, facilitated by Mr. Tarapada Pradhan, Mr. Liaquat Ali and Mr. Nagendra Jena.
Second orientation programme was organized at Berunha Middle school of Marsaghai block, on
the 25th of September, followed by the third and final round on the 9th of October, at school of
Aul block, facilitated by Mr. Suvendu Nayak and Mr. Nilamadhab Parida of ARUP.
TThhee PPrroocceessss
1. Survey
The data collection had continued in 5 blocks of Kendrapara district from 1st to 15th October
2011. The volunteers, sub-volunteers, members of the core group and dalit rights activists were
working as a team during the collection of data in all affected villages. Working as a team had
helped the volunteers to document the specific incidents of discrimination based on caste, class
and gender during the flood more effectively. A total 1766 households had been surveyed under
the inclusion monitoring survey
2. Focus group discussion
A total of 115 focus group discussions (FGD) had been organized in different hamlets and relief
camps of the flood affected villages. The motive of FGD was to find out collective cases of
(community) exclusion and violence faced during and after the flood. Volunteers with the help of
sub-volunteers conducted all the focus group discussions.
3. Documentation of case studies
During the house hold survey and FGDs, the case studies were identified by the field
volunteers. Later after the completion of data collection, the case studies were documented
through interviews and observations. Annexed
4. Community meetings
Throughout the survey, the immediate
community was actively involved in
the process. Both before and after the
survey, a series of meetings was held
with the community to cross check the
data and find out their demand and needs.
In some places the PRI members
also participated to counter the allegation
made by the victims and in some cases
they accepted there were inequities in
relief distributions. Over 200 rounds of
meetings had been arranged over the period of data collection.

10. 5. Meeting with the bureaucrats
During the period of survey, core group members met with the Tahasildar (Sub-Divisional
Magistrate), relief officers and other Govt. officials involved in the disaster relief and response in
Kendrapara districts. A number of meetings with PRI members were also organized where poor
a distribution of relief was reported. The core purpose of the meeting was to provide immediate
redress to the flood victims who were excluded in DRR. The list of the meetings is annexed.
TTHHEE FFIINNDDIINNGGSS OOFF IINNCCLLUUSSIIOONN MMOONNIITTOORRIINNGG SSUURRVVEEYY
After the collection of data from different Dalit habitations of Kendrapara district, four data entry
operators were engaged in completing the data entry. The disaggregated data of 1766
households in 63 villages was analyzed. Here are some general observations and findings:-
GENERAL FINDINGS:
· Even after several requests to the authorities from the dalit communities in Kendrapara to
be shifted to high land areas, nothing was done to protect them from the danger of floods.
· In most of the Dalit Padas (hamlets), there is no electricity, water supply and proper roads.
The Panchayat members visited their village only during the time of election. The upper
caste people in the village didn’t communicate with them and they were subjected to
isolation.
· The Govt. issued warning about the rising water levels posing danger of flood only through
the electronics and print media, to which most of the Dalit families had no access. There
was no preparedness and relevant mod of early warning information dissemination.
· In many places, people came to know about the flood when the flood waters had already
entered their village; whereas the neighboring dominant caste villages had received early
warning in time, which enabled them to save their belongings.
· In some places, other caste people had raise false alarm about the flood with the intension
of capturing the high and safest places first.
· The school building and cyclone shelters were occupied by the upper caste people who
did not allow dalits to take shelter there. As dalits did not protest in fear of conflict with
them.
· The maximum no. of boats provided by Govt. for rescue was captured by dominant caste
people. They used it first for evacuating their families and household materials.
· The SC villages had got very less number of boats that were smaller in size in comparison
to the boats provided to upper castes and influencial people.

11. · Due to the shortage of rescue services to Dalits, there were heavy losses reported in the
form of utensils, clothes, livestock etc., and the loss which may take many years to
recover. Only incomes from the livestock contribute more than 60% to their annual
income.
· Person deployed in rescue operations were influenced by the Panchayat representatives
and Government employees.
· Bureaucrats, officials and the relief officers were not aware of Calamity Relief Fund norms,
while many of the affected dalits were totally unaware about their rights and entitlements
especially during the flood.
· There was severe delay in providing relief to the flood affected communities and dalits
were the last to access relief as they had minimal representation in the Panchayats.
· The average delay in relief distribution was found to be 5-6 days after the flood water
came in the villages whereas other caste people were able to procure the same after 2
days of flood.
· The officials who those were deployed for relief operation did not visit the dalit villages,
while in some situations they inspected it from the boat only.
· Air dropping of food was only done in the villages which are having buildings /Concrete
houses. Those villages having mud houses did not get anything as majority of SC houses
are made with mud.
· Most of the free kitchens near the embankments and relief camps only started 4-5 days
after the flood. The people were bound to eat raw rice, chura (flat rice) and jaggery. This
had health implications for the children, elderly, pregnant women and sick.
· Most of the free kitchens (Govt. and NGO) didn’t have participation of the Dalits and were
being run and regulated by dominant caste people and Panchayat ward members.
· In the free kitchens, instances of about 90% Dalits being served food after the other caste
people had had were reported. Even in places, where the dalit ward members were in
charge, they were found to be operating with instruction from upper caste owing to fear
and humiliations.
· The dalits were not allowed to cook the food at the free kitchens. There were no inter-dining
practices. They had to sit in dirty and muddy ground for eating.
· During the relief distribution, the elderly, women, disabled and sick were severely
neglected as they were not able to go to the distribution place.
· The cooked food at free kitchen was of poor quality with only rice and dal without any
vegetables.

12. · The tarpaulin sheets provided by Govt. were 10ft*12ft in size which was much shorter for
them. Many of them got the sheets much later after spending several days under open sky
whereas dominant caste people grabbed much share of tarpaulin sheets.
· Government relief was mostly distributed by PRI representatives, and the higher caste
people and influencial sections got the maximum share of it. The dalit families had got 4 kg
of rice per head for 7 days as relief, whereas other dominant castes got 9 kg rice per head
(7 days).
· The privacy needs of women, both for health and hygiene, was not addressed in any relief
camp where the dalits were taking shelter .In the embankments, the dalit women had to
wade waist deep into dirty water to relieve themselves into water that the men had made
dirty. For bath they had to go neck deep.
· No sanitary provisions were made available to the women or adolescent girl children by
the Govt. or NGOs at relief camps that were surveyed.
· No supplementary nutrition was provided for pregnant and lactating women
· A lot of children, new bon babies were suffering from fever, cold and Diarrhea as there
were no medical camps for 6-7 days during the flood. In many cases wrong medicines
were given to the people by the quacks.
· The percentage of fully damaged houses is higher among dalits who are land less and
daily wages labourers.
· As the damage list of the houses were prepared under the influence of dominant caste
people, majority of the fully damaged dalit houses were found to be listed as partially
damaged.
· The share croppers are mainly the landless dalits in Odisha. They raise crop in the
agriculture field of the upper caste having major landholdings. These share croppers have
no legal document as it is based on mutual understanding. To raise the crops, they take
loan from local money lenders or land owners. When crop damage list were prepared for
compensation, the names of the land owner were enlisted, ignoring the plight of the share
croppers.

13. Analysis and Findings-
Total population covered (Male and Female ratio)
Among the total affected population we covered, 48% are female and 52% are male as
shown in the pie-chart. It suggests that the female group (most venerable in flood
situation) is equally suffered during flood in Odisha. But the ground situation says different
story.
When we were carrying out survey, it didn’t take long to realize how a single disaster can
affect different people differently and how women almost always suffer multiple blows.
The situation of dalit women in the affected blocks is bad as it is; it has not changed a bit
even after the floods. They were the ones doing all the work – recovered things from
fallen houses, collecting bits and pieces of wood, cooking and feeding their children.
They had the responsible to feed their children and also taking care of cattle those were
survived. They could not bathe for days, they had no privacy. This has affected them
both physically and psychologically. Sheds had been constructed but women’s interests
had not been taken into account. Behind all the designing, planning of the relief
programs, women never even constituted a part. This is the attitude of the bureaucracy.
They are being stuffed like cattle into the sheds and quite a few families are living in one
shed. Dalit women suffered even more. They were not allowed to enter temple or school
premises to take shelter during floods.
The case of Sabitarani Sethi narrates the condition of dalit women in Odisha flood-

14. Sabita Rani Sethi Age :32, SC, Female
W/O – Srimanta Ku Sethi
Vill – Balipatana,
Block- Pattamundai
Dist – Kendrapara
At the time of flood her husband was not at home
because he is a migrant worker in other state as a
daily labour. With her new born baby she some
how managed to shift to the nearby pump house.
As she is dalit women, higher caste people of that
village opposed to stay there as they used the
water for performing Puja.
There was no hygienic and healthy atmosphere
which was very very essential for a new born baby
and lactate mother. There was no one for help as
she was staying in a isolated place. Both mother and child staying in the pump house without light
water and food. When information reached at caste people they forced the pump operator to
vacate her immediately as she belonged to dalit
community. When govt. official came to prepare
the house damage list of the village, caste people
instigated the officer not to include her name in the
list in the plea of disputed land. As the local MLA
belonged to dalit she approached her and the MLA
visited her house and came to know that her house
was made of bricks and clay and completely
damaged, accordingly the MLA Smt. Sipra Mallick
said to Tahasildar to take proper step, but
Tahasildar sanctioned only amount of 2,500/-
against her fully damaged house. Till date she has
not received any compensation from Govt. for her
losses of clothes, livelihood etc.
Till now she is staying under polythene in a very
very measurable condition as shown in the photograph above.
Caste:
We had selected 66 revenue villages over 5 blocks of Kendrapara district for survey and
data collection. Our primary aim was to assess the Dalit’s accessibility to relief and other
response assistance from the government and humanitarian agencies, ground situation
of SC communities, the damages and losses undergone by them and discriminations
they faced. We had covered a total of 1766 households, out of which 1764 are Dalit
families
and 2
from
minority
groups.

15. Occupation:
The graph suggests that among the affected dalit population, the percentage of land less daily
labours are high.The landless and marginal cultivators depend on daily agriculture labour where
they get much less [women even lesser] than the government set minimum wages. These
landless labourer families are mostly untouchable dalits, and are the most deprived and poor
among the dalits. Their households have long been settled in hamlets at the edge of the
revenue villages on lands owned by the upper caste land owners and work in their fields in near
bonded conditions forced to work for very low wages as they are ‘permitted’ by the landlord to
continue living on that land. They are excluded from religious and social functions, preventing
them from use of common public facilities like water and sanitation. They face discrimination in
educational, social and economic opportunities. Ignorance of their rights, illiteracy and lack of
vocational skills has forced them continue as daily labour. During last flood their only source of

16. livelihood opportunity i.e daily labour were unavailable for several days as most of the
agriculture field were submerged in flood water for many days. As they have no land or valuable
assets, the local money lenders did not prefer to lend them. Their families were totally
dependant on relief materials. Whereas Govt. has declared compensation for crop losses which
will surely go to land owners but there are no compensation for the wage losses.
Among these landless labours, some percentages are share-croppers. Sharecroppers in the
State not identified as proper farmers and they do not have any claim over the land they till.
There is no legal agreement between these sharecropper and landlords, purely based on
mutual trust. These sharecroppers were also worst sufferer in last flood as their rights are not
acknowledged by the administration or landlords. They are now burdened with loans which they
brought to raise their crops.
Biswanth Malik
S/o – Jadunath Mallick
Vill – Madana
Po – Naindipur
Garadapur, Dist – Kendrapara
Biswanath is a share cropper farmer has three family member, his wife and two children. He has a
loan burden from co-operative society. He brought the loan a sum of Rs. 20,000/- for agriculture
purpose by bribing a bank employee. Now he lost the crop and his agriculture field covered by silt by
the last flood. The Govt. declared compensation against loss of crop but that has gone to the land
owner’s Bank account. As a share cropper, Biswanath is excluded from getting compensation given
by the Govt. Now he has turned to a daily wages labour from a farmer. When he approached with his
grievances before Tahasildar, one of his assistant abused Biswanath saying that “Your origin is Daily
labour and you will remain so and you can not be a farmer throughout your life”. Now Biswanth is
planning to migrate to some other state in search of work. May the life of Biswanath will end as
bonded labour at last!

17. Naresh Sethy
S/o – Pari Sethy
Vill – Lekhanpada
Po – Naindipur
Dit – Kendrapara
Naresh Sethy has two sons and one daughter. Two sons are staying separately after there their
marriage. He is not getting old age pension even at the age of 65. Both husband and wife managed
too difficulties for survive. They are shouldering another burden of an unmarried daughter. They were
unaware of a heavy flood by river Chitroptala. As a farmer having no land of his own, the crop was
totally damaged which he had cultivated by share farming. As he has not land of his own, he could
not get any compensation against loss of crop declared by Govt. The total paddy field washed away
by flood. His mud house also washed out by flood. He as no clothes, utensils yet. Now he is in a
miserable condition and still taking shelter of his sister in-laws house. When we meet him, he came
with us to show his house to us.
Residence details:
In our study we found majority of the dalit households are Kachha houses made with mud that
couldn’t have withstood even a fairly heavy rain; the mud melted, the wooden posts collapsed,
and the houses caved in. Most of them are severely damaged or completely submerged. In
some places the outer walls were standing upright, but mud roof of the houses has caved in so
that survey officials termed it “partially damaged”. Though these people have lived in those
houses all their life but are now finding it difficult to live in their (kachcha) houses. They are now
scared to sit and eat food inside the house. The back wall and the side walls of some houses
are gone. Nobodies know when it will be fully collapsed. When there is rain, the entire houses
leaks. The people don’t have enough blankets or mats also. In some kachcha houses, either the
roof has come crashing down or the façade or the walls.

18. A very few nos. of houses had survived from the devastations of Odisha flood. A large nos. of
Indira Awas was found to be in incomplete stage. Because of large scale corruption in
distribution system, the people did not able to complete those houses.
Living condition:
Our study shows that a large number of dalits live close to river-embankments, and they are
staying there since many years. Due to caste based discrimination, many were compelled to
settle along the banks of the Rivers for lack of any other available place to live. Mostly Dalits
who lived on the banks of the rivers or nearby were most affected by the flood every year. The
flood water made them first victim then rush to other places of village where other caste people
reside. Being so close to river, they faced maximum damage and get very little time for
preparedness. As the dalit houses are very weak in structure, the force of flood water had

19. washed out many houses in a very short period of time. After the Odisha flood this year, they
become much more vulnerable.
Situation is almost similar in all the places, their living places are in very unsafe zone. They
were staying in low-lying areas where the flood water took time to drain. The whole area
remained damp for extended periods of time after flood. Due to the heavy dampness and
increased moistures in soil, the mosquitoes and other water born diseases were high rate. As
the flood water logged for several days, the remaining mud wall of the huts were also fallen. The
village road (Kachha) were completely washed out or damaged (where it is concrete road)
made difficulties for people to communicate. Drinking water sources were also polluted due to
heavy water logging. Survey officials and health workers also did not bother to visit those damp
and water logging places.
Early warning:

20. · It was found in our survey that about 80% dalit families could not shifted to safer place
before flood and same no. of families did not received any warning about the flood.
· The main reason behind not getting warning is, they are isolated from rest of the
community. Other community did not passed information about the flood to dalits.
· Never or less only 27% of the people were aware about the early warning function of the
Govt.
· On early warning system the local administration did not took it seriously. As most all
Dalit Villages are in the remotest areas of the District and there is not proper road
communication facility no electrification and percentage of literate are very low. During
rainy season the kachha roads were washed out before flood. As Dalits are vey poor
they have no television and their villages are not electrified. There were not any other
electronic media to get information. As most of them are illiterate, they could they got
information from news papers also. Hence Administration could aware the Villagers by
providing special importance disadvantage groups through other system of
communication like announcement about the flood through sound system and
messengers.
Due to failure of early working system the devastated flood came in the rivers and
washout their cattle like goats, Buffaloes and remaining food materials also. if they could
got proper information they could have saved all they have lost by going to safe high
places.
In Some areas like Aul, Rajnagar, Rajkanika and Pattamundai crocodiles were free by
floating in the flood water. Money goats and other cattles were attacked and consumed
by crocodiles and those were belongs to dalit families as many dalit villages are situated
on banks of the rivers. If administration could have took measures before flood
crocodiles should have in their breeding center not in the flood water.
In some places it was noticed that the higher castes those had information about the
flood from (TV, Radio, newspapers and other system) did not passed to the dalits

21. because they fear if they will pass it to them all school building and high places will be
captured first by dalits and they will not find any suitable place for them.
Evacuation:
Here in evacuation services out of 1766 respondents, 1615 families did not able to access the
evacuation services provided by Govt. Among them most of the families could not afford to
access the private services because most of them were not free.
The boat which was given by administration to upper caste village at Gardapur block
In our finding we came to know that there were not sufficient boats with local administration. The
power boats supplied by state disaster management authorities were also insufficient against

22. the demand and among them 50 % were not functional. Most of the boats were under
possession of higher caste people for their personal use. They used it to shift their cattle and
belongings to safer places. Some even captured the boats for commercial purpose. In the case
of Dalit villages, local administration provided very less no. of boats i.e desi boats (small country
boats) on the name of boats. The money against boat requiting was also siphoned away by
officials and local representatives. So rescue operations made by boats were in the pen and
paper only. Dalit villages were worst affected due to their villages are in the low land are they
lost everything. Many villages the people said they saved their life by ascending nearby trees
and pucca rooftop leaving all their belonging and domestic animal to washout in flood water.
The boat which was given to Dalits at Gardapur block
In some of areas, the shelter places (Ashray Sthal) were made but they were only normal house
in distance areas. As these people were residing in the river bed and isolated areas, how they
could mange to come to the Asryasthal in such very flood without any rescue facilities. In some
areas cyclone centers were made in the opposite side of the embankment where flood water did
not even touch the villages (mainly near to higher caste villages), in the other side of the
embankment, there was not as single cyclone center is available where flood water beached the
embankment(which is near to dalit villages)

23. Extent of loss and damaged suffered:
Human loss and injured:
There were so many instances the people got injured when they were trying to save their cattle,
belongings, stored food items and relatives from the fury of flood water. Most of them were
unaware about the upcoming flood and the flood water suddenly rushed to their houses. They
had a very little time for evacuation and plan at last minute created confusion. Mostly the people
got injured when they were running to safer places to save their life or the damaged roof
collapsed on them during recovering theirs household materials. Among the injured people the
children and elders are high in number. Many people were swept away wading through flood
waters, resulting in injury and death. The cases of snake-bites were on rise as flood waters flush
snakes from their homes.
As shown on the above graph, there were many people who required hospitalization more than
a week but very few numbers of them actually able to avail those services. Many injured person
spent their whole savings and took loan to bear charges for hospitalization. Poor communication
facilities also another barrier to get them admits in hospitals. There were very little health
facilities were available in relief camps and where they were available, the health workers were
treating only minor health problems. Some places it was reported that the Govt. health worker
provided wrong medicines.
There are 2 death had been reported by drowning in flood water. The families are yet to receive
compensation from Govt.

24. In all the villages surveyed it was found that the Dalit families have suffered huge loss in term of
Utensils, clothes and other assets and belongings. Those were mostly washed out by the flood
water and remaining are destroyed as it dumped under mud for several days.
Even after the flood, they are not able to cook their food properly as they had lost the utensils.
Many people forced to wear the wet clothes for several days in absence of no other option.
Especially the elderly people and children were suffering in cold in absence of proper warm
clothes and many of them became sick after the flood. Other assets such as agricultural
equipments, stored food items etc. were flown or lost during flood. After the devastating flood,
they are now not in situation to purchase those items again. In number of villages people
complained that when they approached Govt. authorities to compensate for these losses, they
denied to list them saying that they can not as it not under the Govt. guidelines.
Loss of Domestic animals:
Information on loss of live stock because of the floods was got with regard to 5 categories,
namely Cow/buffalo/yak, sheep/goat, horse/bullock, calf/donkey/pony and poultry. In all these
categories dalit communities has lost in high numbers as shown in the graph below. The
landless and sharecroppers depend on those domestic animals for agriculture purpose. Many of
them for their livelihood dependant on those livestock rearing only and when they lost livestock
like goats, poultry, sheep, cows and buffalos,they had lost their entire means of livelihood. They
have now no other option to recover from this loss unless the Govt. compensate them for their
loss of livestock. According to our survey, a total 484 families had live stocks, out of 484
families- 68 families lost cow/buffalo/ yak, 194 families lost sheep/goat, 41 families lost
horse/bullock, 18 families lost calf/donkey/pony, 163 families lost poultry.

25. Damage and loss of Housing:
The above figure says that a large no. of houses belongs to dalits have been severely damaged
or washed away. According to the respondents, if a house severely damaged then the cost to
rebuild the house will be equal to the house which is washed away. It was observed during the
survey that there are several factors which are responsible for such heavy damage to the
houses.
1. Flood water logged inside and outside of the houses for several days

26. 2. The houses are in low lying areas and close to river embankments.
3. Above 95% of the houses are kachha and very weak foundation.
In absence of any house, the people were living under trees, under small tarpaulin huts. Now it
is a big question how these people will rebuild their houses when they still have to arrange their
food for their families at first.
The Govt. has declared Rs10, 000 for totally damaged houses even with this amount it is not
possible to build a house. They will need at least Rs.1.5 lakh to build a decent mud house.
Loss of Land and crops:
Information was collected with regards to crop and land loss (both lease and own land).
Whatever the little land that the Dalit’s had were lost in the floods. Where as other upper caste
lost only small portion of the large section of land. Those small and marginalized farmers who
had raised crops on lease or share cropping have not any legal evidence to claim
compensation. Till now the Govt. has not taken any policy decision to compensate those share
croppers. It means the full compensation will go to the land owners. At this stage the share
cropper are going to lose his all investments which they invested to raise crops. They had taken
loans from local money lenders for these purposes, now the money lenders are also pressuring
them to repay the loans. Without any compensation or relief they could not able to repay.
Loss to the school going children:
Along with women and elderly children were hit hardest by the floods. All the schools were
stopped for more than one month during floods. The schools are converted to relief camps and
some were submerged in flood water. So children were out of schools for many days. Maximum
percentage of school going children had lost their study materials like Books, school bags etc. in
floods. Many parents were not sure that they will be able to send their children back to school
after flood as they do not have essentials such as uniforms, Books and notebooks.

27. With proper support for purchasing those essentials, these school going children may not back
to school ever.
Extent of relief accessed by the household:
The
graph shows the percentage of the total household said yes.
· The graph above shows, how effective was the Govt. in providing relief to the dalits.
Less than 25% of the respondents said they got the relief immediately. Many affected
families waited for 6-7 days to get their due of relief. After 2-3 days of flood their stock -
food items were finished and rest were washed away. Without fuel-wood and proper
place for cooking they were not able to prepare food even for their children and elderly
family members.
· More than 90% of the dalit household did not able to access the relief materials on time.
In many villages, the people complained that the people those are closed to political
power or higher caste blocked the information about the relief distribution place.
· Only 30% of the houses had access to relief camps available there and there were caste
based discriminations also. Many places the other caste people opposed their staying at
relief camps.
The following case study is one example of it.
Jadunath Malik ,S/o –Lamidhar Malik ,Village – Madana, Gardapur
Jhdunath is a farmer. As the last flood in the river Chitroptala wash out all the crop fields of the
village including Jadunath’s field also. When Govt. declared compensation against the loss of crop
Jadunath’s name also listed but in stead of 2 acre actual loss he got one acre. It is worth to mention
here that when most of the other caste people managed to get more compensation than actual loss,

28. Jadunath who is a dalit did not get his proper due.
During flood Jadunath and other came to know that nobody will
rescue them, he and some people from his caste went to near
by school building to take shelter. The other caste people of the
village did not allowed them as they were staying there before.
Then Jadu and other bound to go with their families to the river
embankment. They stayed there for fifteen days. No free
kitchen was available there. Only rice and some poha had given to them.
Initiation of relief camps:
The chart shows that maximum percentage of relief camps were initiated on 6th day after the flood.
About 10% of the relief camps had started on that day when flood hit those villages. According
to the respondent, most of the relief camps were captured by the upper caste families. When
they went there to take shelter, they were either harassed by them or forced to stay at
unhygienic places like veranda of school building and damped places. Though the proper relief
camps were started after 4-5 days still then they had already spent several days under the open
sky. Some people had taken shelter on the roof top of other caste people in absence of
adequate place in relief camps.

29. Here the maximum percentage of camps closed before opening and on 3rd day of flood. Some
area like Aul, the flood continued for 25 days.
It was observed that most of the camps were irregularly running and without very basic facilities
especially where the Dalit families were residing. In many places like Aul flood water continued
to submerged vast areas for several days where there were need for relief camps for extended
period. But the authorities closed those camps before the fulfillment of relief needs of affected
people. Particularly whereas need of relief camps was for 15 days, but those closed within 5
days. It was also seen that in some places relief camps were closed without any prior notice the
people who were residing in relief camps.
During the visit of NDW team to Berunha village in Marshaghai block, the villagers complained
that the relief officer had said them “Since you are Dalit, we will give you food for 1 day, but the
government has given us 3 days food to distribute between you “
Daily food supply in relief camps:
In maximum percentage of the relief camps it was commonly seen that the people are eating
only rice and dal. People were eating those foods because they had other option to survive.
When the people complained about it, the PRI members (mainly those are in charge of
community kitchens) answered that where they will bring vegetables for them as they have to
pay bribe for releasing relief materials and carriage charges.
About 25% of the relief camps, there were no provision of community kitchen. The people were
either prepared their food of their own or eat dry foods like chura, gud, biscuits which they had
received as relief sometimes. Those (especially single-elderly people) who had not any of the
above option, they were in mercy of others. There were no special provision for elders, pregnant
women, children and sick people.

30. The above chart shows, in 65% relief camps (only rice and dal were provided) which has very low nutritional value.
Sanitation at relief camps:
The chart shows the percentage of people says yes.
· Only 12% people have access to clean drinking water at relief camps, where as others
were drinking contaminated water from tube-well. As a result a lot of people suffered
from water related diseases.
· Some people used polluted flood water in absence of any water sources.
· The surrounding of the many relief camps was unhygienic and filthy. As too many people
were forced to live in a small relief camps, the area became unhealthy to live.

31. · Health workers and Anganwadi Workers did not bother to supply bleaching powder to
relief camps.
Mode provision of water:
· Only 47.5% respondent said that they had given package water (pouch water) for very
few days (1-2 days). 29% respondent said that they used flood water for drinking and
cooking.
· 24% people said that they used tube well water in absence of any other options. Neither
they had the purchasing capacity for package water nor do they get any package water
in relief.
Gender justice in relief and rehabilitation:
From the Govt. side there were no women-specific programs started since the floods. Only in
some areas of Gardapur block NGOs have initiated some women specific program.

32. The above graph present that there were no sign of gender justice any where during relief operations. The women were totally
neglected in the whole process.
· The pregnant and lactating mother did not get any supplementary nutrition in most of the
places leaving some places here and there where some NGOs provided them.
· No labour room had provided in relief camps, In some places the mothers gave birth to
their baby “Covering her with sarees” without any trained health workers.
· In absence of proper bathing facilities, the women had to wade waist deep into dirty
flood water to relieve themselves into water that the men had made dirty.
· For bath they had go neck deep.
· Many places the women did not bath for several days.
· Not in a single medical camp, there were facilities for gynecological treatments.
Sexual violence, trafficking and child labour:

33. · Some places there are complain of sexual violence but those cases could not came to
light due to pressure from dominant castes. As we have mentioned before that the Dalit
families were residing in unsafe places like veranda of school building where there were
no protecting wall or any cover, the female members of dalit families became victims of
unsocial peoples.
· Child labour is also on increasing rate due to heavy loss of livelihood and demand from
the family. After the flood there were many incident of child missing reported from study
areas. The families who had lost their all means of livelihood, children there adopting
work like helper in road side hotels and other hazardous location.
· There are increasing rates of child labour especially after the flood this year.
Status of Children and interventions by the state: (age 0-14):
· More than 51% people said during survey that they are being discriminated related flood
support. They did not get their actual share which was meant for them. Other-caste
people, the people those were able to influence relief officers got maximum than their
due.
· In most of villages the people feel that they were cheated by relief officials as they get
less quantity of gain poha, gud etc. against govt. declaration. Where as other influential
class people stored sacks of gud and other relief materials at their house and later sold it
to open market.
· Most of the villages, higher cast people were given in charge for relief distribution; they
did not give relief materials to Dalits in time.
The figure shows the percentage of household said yes

34. · In 62% of the cases the baby has suffered some type of illness during flood situation.
Like women the infants did not get much support in terms of clothes, baby food milk etc.
in relief. They did not get proper medical attention also.
Type of illness detected:
· The figure on the above graph indicates that the people were suffering with fever and
cold in maximum numbers. It also clear that there was not proper shelter facility for
them.
· They had lost their clothes so that many of them bound to wear the same clothes for
several days. Without proper shelter children suffered a lot.
Survey conducted by officials to assess loss and damage:
· Survey of the damage house only started after the 15 days of floods. They used sat
at particular place of the village and collected information through the upper caste.
· In the our entire survey area, there are 90-95% houses are severely damaged or
washed away but only 4 houses has been included in those lists others are included
in partially damaged list.
· In many cases the higher caste people those have pucca houses but they are able to
include their houses in the list of fully damaged by giving bribe to those officials.
· Not a single share cropper has been included in crop damaged list.
· The survey officials did not enter to the dalit houses to assess the damage and loss.
· Mostly the higher caste people were assisting them throughout the survey.
· They were only assessing the house and crop damage

35. The above data indicate the nos. household has been surveyed by authorities
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE GOVERNMENT AND HUMANITARIAN AGENCIES
 There should be separate vigilance department to see and punish any cases of
Caste Based Discriminations.
 Proper accessibility to public infrastructure facilities is needed for the better
sustainability of the communities living in Disaster Prone Areas
 Proper pre assessment of the Communities living in the Coastal areas is needed
even in the time no such disasters are not in presence.
 Awareness of Government officials on the CRF/NDRF /NDMA/OSDMA act for
inclusive DRR is needed.
 Awareness on the CRF guidelines and NDMA act is to be done in the villages and
communities should be strengthened from the efforts.
 Training and awareness of Panchayat leaders is needed for proper utilization of
Funds earmarked for communities suffered in any disasters.
 DDMP must have the active representation of Dalits and Other underprivileged for
a smooth process of ensuring entitlements.
Recommendations to the Government
1. Institute separate vigilance department to see and punish any cases of Caste Based
Discriminations.

36. 2. Proper establishment of and accessibility to public infrastructure is needed for the better
preparedness of the communities living in Disaster Prone Areas.
3. Pre-disaster vulnerability assessment of the communities living in the coastal areas.
4. Awareness of Government officials and the communities on the Calamity Relief
Fund/National Disaster Response Fund norms; National Disaster Management Act and
Orissa State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) for inclusive Disaster Response
&Risk Reduction (DR& DRR).
5. Training and awareness of Panchayat leaders for proper utilization of funds earmarked for
communities in events of disasters.
6. District Disaster Management Plan (DDMP) must have active representation of Dalits and
other underprivileged for a smooth process of ensuring entitlements