12 August, 2005 - an Update

Mr. Walmik Nikalje, Secretary of the Bal Hakk Abhiyaan (BHA) and a CRY representative were part of the NGO delegation that met the Chief Minister, Shri Vilas Rao Deshmukh on 9 August, 2005. There were various points discussed at this gathering. The broad points put forth were:

• Livelihood
• Provide employment to all affected in urban as well as rural areas (Employment Guarantee Scheme)
• Resolve and start Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme with immediate effect, in line with the Employment Guarantee Scheme existing in the rural Maharashtra.
• Antyodaya Yojana (Subsidy Scheme) must be applicable to all the flood affected families. It should be enforced till the total rehabilitation process is complete.
• Provide livelihood assets to the affected areas.
• The daily wage earners must get ration and living support for at least a month.
• Health
• Immediate attention and focus must be given to the health-related situation in the state. There is scarcity of medicines, health staff at Health Posts and PHCS, Government Hospitals and Rural Hospitals
• Ensure distribution of preventive medicine to the affected areas
• CRY and BHA suggested deployment of health staff from non-affected area to affected area as a top priority
• Ensure government will buy medicine and supply to the affected population, free of charge with immediate effect.
• Education

1. We need an immediate assessment of the damage to schools and assessment of the safety of infrastructure (water logging in schools, safety of buildings etc)
2. Provide books, uniforms to all children from affected areas. Infact the Chief Minister shared that all children in the state are insured.
3. We also demand that the schools should be equipped with proper toilet facilities, clean drinking water etc.
4. Cancel/ postpone all immediate exams