AID - Flood Relief

Association for India's Development currently works with over 100 projects in sustainable development and community empowerment in different parts of India. At the time of calamities, based on reports and appeals from our partner organizations, AID responds with the aim of reaching the most neglected communities. At the present time, the focus is on providing the basic necessities like food, drinking water, shelter, clothing and in clean-up operations.

The continuous, heavy rainfall, has killed several hundred people, inundating villages and causing widespread damage to crops. In Srikakulam District, Andhra Pradesh, identifying crop loss as the major need, AID has sent $18,500 to provide paddy and sugarcane seeds for several hundred hectares, and to set up kitchen gardens. In Orissa, seeing loss of livelihoods of small farmers and agricultural labourers, AID is providing work opportunities at the Rural Technology Resource Center run by AID-Orissa. In Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, working with partner NGO's, AID is providing food-grain support to thousands of adivasi (tribal) families as well as plastic sheets for temporary shelter and where needed a week's supply of firewood and basic medicines. On the Tapi River, while national attention has focused on the "diamond city" of Surat, little relief has reached the smaller villages along the riverbank. Volunteers from Rajpipla Social Service Society and Mozda Collective have been going from village to village, sometimes by foot and boat, to gather information and distribute relief packets when possible. By working with such groups, AID is ensuring timely and effective relief.

While relief work is going on, it is vital to understand that mismanagement of development projects has contributed to the severity of the floods. Himanshu Thakker of South Asian Network of Dams, Rivers & People, emphasizes that large-scale destruction in Surat could have been prevented. While Ukai dam was rapidly filling from July 20 - August 7, the waters were not being released in sufficient quantities. This led to sudden releases of 10 lakh cusecs of water while the downstream carrying capacity was only 3-4 lakh cusecs, thereby flooding Surat. Likewise, the Sardar Sarovar Dam was raised without rehabilitation of tens of thousands of upstream families and the completion of the canal networks.

Details of AID supported effort in various states is as under:

Gujarat: The worst affected villages are in the rural parts of Baroda, Surat and Panchmahal districts, where there is flooding due to release of water from Kadana and Palam dams on the Mahisagar river. There is serious damage to households, agriculture and road infrastructure. AID has contributed $5000 for the flood relief work to the Bhasha Tribal Academy, Tejgadh, and its partners. Bhasha karyakartas have begun relief work in the Lunawada and Panchmahal areas and disbursed immediate needs like plastic sheets, rice, dal, cooking oil, flour, match boxes, spices, firewood and basic medicines to last them for a week. The flood situation in Ahmedabad and Panchmahal has improved and government rescue operations continue in various parts of the state.

Southern Gujarat: AID received an urgent appeal to help flood affected families along the Tapi river in Gujarat. Once the waters receded, first assessment along the northern bank of the Tapi, between Mandvi and the Ukai dam saw an estimated 150 Kaccha households in Nindhwada village affected by the flooding. Clothes, cooking vessels, stored grain, and cattle were carried away with the flood. Volunteers have been going from village to village, sometimes by foot and boat, to gather information and distribute relief packets when possible. The relief packets contain uncooked grain, spices, oil, etc. Initial funds for these packets were mobilized from within the Vadodara community. A contribution of $5,400 to the Rajpipla Social Service Society and Mozda collective from AID has extended the distribution of relief packets. Even though water level has fallen a bit, the situation is still critical, and data about future rainfall is still not known.

Maharashtra & Madhya Pradesh: Hundreds of adivasi families in the Narmada valley were in dire need of relief from the flooding. The families have no hope of a second crop either. AID is sending $13,000 to the Bombay Sarvodaya Friendship Center, for food-grains, chatais and blankets.

Andhra Pradesh: In the first week of July heavy rains and flooding of Nagavalli river affected villages in Santakaviti and Ponduru mandals of Srikakulam District, AP where AID-India works. AID-Srikakulam has assessed damages resulting from the floods to homes and farms - an estimated 500 families in 8 villages, namely Mantina, Ramarayapuram, Buradapeta, Shalipeta, Malayapeta, Gujjenapeta, Tolapi and Almajipeta, need some support to recover from the agricultural loss. While about 50 families need housing support, several vegetable plantations including 250 kitchen gardens, promoted by AID have suffered. AID has sent $18,500 to AID-Srikakulam and the team has decided to provide relief to all of these families using the gram sabha decision making process. The government has also announced some compensation and they will be helping the villagers also access that.

Orissa: AID-US has contributed $7,000 to AID-Orissa and relief work has commenced in Palakandi in Gajapathi districts. At present work is being generated for 100 farmers with work on the AID site and they have also been provided paddy saplings to be planted. 50 villagers whose houses are partially damaged are being helped with building materials. Recent rains have also affected the Malkangiri district and they require immediate relief.

About AID: The Association for India's Development (AID), Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization with over 40 chapters in the US. AID has received the highest 4-star rating by Charity Navigator, America's best-known independent evaluator of charities. AID projects and partners have also received several national and international awards and recognitions.

AID is committed to the cause of alleviating poverty in India, measuring progress with the yard-sticks of self-reliance, social justice, people's involvement, and volunteerism. AID supports projects that empower poor and marginalized communities in India through developmental efforts in areas such as women's issues, education, literacy, micro-credit, community health, sustainable livelihoods, watershed development and environmental issues.

Contributions to AID Inc. are tax-deductible in the US. Our federal tax-ID is 04-3652609.