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Ssc SOCIAL STUDY CIRCLE di (ESTD
1982) www.dalitindia.com ssc@dalitindia.com *********************************************************************** |
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Previous upload: March 24, 2001
Updated on: October 30, 2001
DALITS AND
DISASTERS
SC&ST Dalits are at the bottom of the Society. They are placed at the last in every
sphere. They are allowed to come only
in the end, if at all they are allowed to come up. And they are always neglected or sidelined, and
marginalised. But they are the first to
be roped in, whenever someone is to be sacrificed and chopped; or some work is
to be taken, and some burden is to be carried, or a difficult task is to be
finished.
At the times of Disasters, the SC&ST Dalits are
totally left out to suffer the most.
They remain at the mercy of nature’s fury, without any relief or
support, or help and succour. This had
happened again and again. Shamelessly
they have also been reported without any remorse. Even then they have been denied and blacked out by the
authorities. There have been no
remedial action or change. This, even
after these tragic neglects had caught the World’s Eye. This had happened even in the very recent
times, during the drought and famine in Orissa and other parts of the
Country. Earlier also these happened
during the floods in Orissa, earthquake in Gujarat, and before that during the
killer cyclone in Orissa. Similar were
our earlier experiences in Uttar Kashi, Lattur etc.
The tragic reality is that those in power and authority
always continue with their cruel indifferent ways of life. They live in comfort at our cost, that too
without doing any work or straining themselves in any way. Yet, they get away without any punishment,
and come back to power again and again.
Disasters may strike again anywhere. One may not predict them with
certainty. None can escape them
easily. But we can prepare ourselves,
to reduce the damages. If only we can Plan in advance, well in time, the
sufferings and losses can be minimised to a very large extent. We can certainly provide help, render relief
and rehabilitate those who survive.
Since our experiences with the Disasters and the Govts’ willingness to
help the Dalits have been very poor, it becomes all the more necessary for We
Dalits to prepare ourselves to face the Disasters better.
We present below some issues that need to be taken care of
–
TYPES
OF DISASTERS :
1.
Earth Quake, severe Drought,
big Famine,
2.
Major Fire, Flood, Cyclone,
3.
War, Bombing, Major
Terrorist Attacks,
4.
Communal Riots, Caste
Carnages, Social Violence, Civil Strife
PROBLEMS
TO BE MANAGED :
1.
Locating the Survivors,
Rescue and Relief,
2.
First Aid, Medical Help,
Childcare,
3.
Safe Drinking Water, Food,
Shelter, Clothing,
4.
Control and Protection from
Epidemics,
5.
Security, Safety, Protection,
Psychological Assurances,
6.
Message Centers with
Communication Facilities,
7.
Identification and location
of Family Members and Relatives
NEED
TO ORGANISE :
1.
Safe or Protected Places to
Go and Stay,
2.
First-Aid Kits, Medicines,
3.
Rehabilitation Material,
4.
Net-Working and mobilising
outside Groups and Volunteers to render Help and Assistance,
5.
Trained Personnel
MEASURES
TO BE TAKEN NOW :
1.
Identification of Places to
Stay,
2.
Mobilising Volunteers,
3.
Arranging proper Training,
4.
Positioning of reliable
Communication Equipments and Networks of our own,
5.
Arranging First Aid Kits and
Medical Supplies
PREPERATIONS NECESARRY :
1.
Stretchers, and Camp-Cots,
2.
Tents, Tarpaulins,
Ground-Sheets, Bed Sheets, Mosquito Nets, some Clothes,
3.
Stocking of some Food
Grains, Fire Wood,
4.
First Aid Kits, Essential
Medicines, Bandages,
5.
Phenyl, Disinfectants,
Dettol,
6.
Chlorine Tablets, Setting up
of local Ambedkar Bhavans with Open Spaces for Camping in every area of the
city/town and village,
7.
Digging wells and small
ponds for Water,
8.
Planting of small Fruit
Trees and Shrubs, Medicinal Plants and Herbs,
9.
Preparing SCs&STs,
particularly the Women and Children to live in the open by the Camp Fires and
in Tents,
10. Local, Regional and National Net-Working, with reliable International
Contacts.
11. Preparing the Dalit Groups all over the Country, in every
Village and Dalit Colonies in Cities and Towns, to Manage small and big
Disasters
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NOTE :
1.
This has been prepared in
view of the Disasters that had been striking different parts of the Country
during the recent times,
2.
The Discriminations and
Neglect of the SC&ST Dalits and Minorities by the caste hindu Officials
during Rescue and Relief Operations are deliberate and intentional,
3.
Authorities and caste hindu
volunteers refuse to provide Food and Medical Aid, even during the severe
Calamities like Flood, Cyclone and Earth Quake,
4.
The hatred and animosity
shown by the caste hindus even in the midst of Tragedies and right in the face
of Death, had highlighted the need necessity and the urgency to begin some Work
in establishing exclusive Teams and Net-Work of SC&ST Dalits Rescue
Missions, in different parts of the Country, to concentrate on Rescue and Relief
of SC&ST Dalits being neglected by the Officials Volunteers and many NGOs
during Calamities and Disasters,
5.
This is only an outline for
Samaritans, good Activists, Active Groups and Voluntary Organisations,
6.
This is at present in
Conceptual Stage, and its ultimate shape, effectiveness and success will depend
on the interest, help, cooperation and participation of many SC&ST Dalits,
7.
We look for Suggestions
Additions to improve this Presentation in the Web Site,
8.
Action in the meanwhile may
kindly be taken on these lines,
9.
The success of these Ideas
can materialise into effective benefits, only when Dalit Groups and Individuals
Act immediately with some sense of urgency,
10. To begin with at least some small Teams be organised in
some areas.
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