Fwd: Bihar floods 2008 - updates, and the way forward ?

[Guest guest]

---------- Forwarded message ----------Vivek Kumar <vivek.learner

Dear friends,

 

It is now more than 5 weeks after the breach of embankment. Some observations can be made at this point:

 

* Relief organisations and government have been working intensively on the flood relief effort. The flood relief activities by civil society organisations do not get much pubicity and the quality of the flood relief by the government is not so clear to the public. Some may be aware of the guidelines (http://www.indiawaterportal.org/bihar/?p=102) issued by the government on standards to be maintained by the district administration. Are there being followed? We request civil society organisations and others to write to us on what is going on on the ground, which we will post to the site. Please mail us at portal

* Media coverage continues to some extent. Intense online debates are visible on some mailing lists, but the questions involved are not reaching the broader public and not looking like they are affecting government policy. What to do in this situation ?

* Severe flooding in Orissa and elsewhere have caused widespread suffering. Some aid organisations are reporting significantly less donations in response to the disasters. Perhaps there is a sense of fatigue with all the bad news.

 

We welcome your input on all the above, which we will be happy to post to the website to reach a wider audience. We also request your suggestions on what India Water Portal can do going forward.

 

 

Below are several updates and resources on the Water Portal website:

 

1.) Volunteers: People have continued to write in showing interest in going to Bihar to volunteer:-- Personal development trainer from Mumbai with marketing and administration experience can volunteer for 2 weeks or more

-- Environment consulting professional specializing in groundwater and soil remediation with construction and first aid skills, and camping experience would like to volunteer for 2 weeks or more-- Computer engineer from Pune, who is good with working with kids can volunteer for 2 weeks

-- Law student can work for 2 weeks in December-- MBA students from Birla Institute of Technology -- English teacher from England See:

http://www.indiawaterportal.org/bihar/?p=141 http://www.indiawaterportal.org/bihar/?p=128

http://www.indiawaterportal.org/bihar/?p=109

If you have written to India Water Portal as a volunteer and have been able to contact a voluntary organisation through us and are working or will be working in Bihar, we would appreciate it if you could send us feedback regarding your experience.

2.) Orissa: With severe flooding in Orissa too, we have on the site analyses of the situation from SANDRP & Water Initiatives Orissa. http://www.indiawaterportal.org/bihar/?p=150 3.) Quick & easy availability of potable water through SODIS techniques on the ground is advocated by Vishwanath: http://www.indiawaterportal.org/bihar/?p=148

4.) Guwahati-based Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre (CBTC) has brought out eco-friendly building materials for reconstruction after the floods, more details are available here: http://www.indiawaterportal.org/bihar/?p=146

5.) Post traumatic stress disorder & lack of counselling facilities, for people facing the loss of loved ones & more, Dr. Onkar Mittal argues for the provision of mental well being facilities in relief camps: http://www.indiawaterportal.org/bihar/?p=144

6.) Down to Earth carries a hard hitting editorial on the Bihar Floods, placing blame where it is due: http://www.indiawaterportal.org/bihar/?p=140

7.) Field reports:

Water Aid India http://www.indiawaterportal.org/bihar/?p=134,

PLAN: http://www.indiawaterportal.org/bihar/?p=134, and

SSVK: http://www.indiawaterportal.org/bihar/?p=153 provides information on the ground situation & current needs:

Relief organisations are requested to send details about their relief work (mail portal)

8.) Listen to music and raise money for the flood victims, a different tune from Agam: http://www.indiawaterportal.org/bihar/?p=118

9.) Vacancy: India Water Portal is looking for a consultant to provide updates & maintain current information levels regarding Bihar floods, apply here: http://www.indiawaterportal.org/bihar/?p=145

10.) Current news & updates are posted regularly here: http://www.indiawaterportal.org/bihar/?cat=3

 

Best wishes,

India Water Portal team

portal

 

Please forward other people who may be interested. To from these mailings regarding the Bihar floods 2008, please mail portal with subject " Un Bihar "

-- Vivek Kumarhttp://vivek.vision.googlepages.com/ LinkedIn URL: http://www.linkedin.com/in/vivekvision

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