Time for NGOs to step up to the plate+

Absence of national and international voluntary organisations being acutely felt

While relief materials from philanthropists, trade bodies and other organisations have been pouring in to cyclone-affected districts, national and international voluntary organisations have been conspicuous by their absence in the ongoing relief operations.

Following some initial confusion and complaints over the distribution of relief materials in the first few days since the cyclone, the authorities in the affected districts have started streamlining the flow of relief materials to the needy. Not many NGOs seem to be on the field at the moment, and the few that are have, for the most part, been able to focus only on rescue and immediate relief measures.

The Nagapattinam district administration has notified three reception points for relief materials. “Donors or agencies can get information on the damage and on what kind of relief is needed and where. We encourage the donors or agencies to distribute the relief materials themselves. But we send them to the areas in need with police escort,” said Agriculture Secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi.

While welcoming the flow of essentials and household items, officials on the field conceded that the absence of national and international voluntary organisations, which had the capacity to adopt and rebuild villages and people’s livelihood, was being felt acutely. They pointed out that major NGOs had played a critical role in the rehabilitation process in the coastal areas of Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and elsewhere after the 2004 tsunami.

‘Absence inexplicable’

“The next stage of the intervention will have to focus on the rehabilitation of farmers, fishers and people who have lost everything. Voluntary organisations, which have resources and volunteers at their command, need to step in. Their absence so far has been inexplicable,” an official said.

Former Union Minister of State for Finance, S.S. Palanimanickam pointed out that several voluntary organisations had participated in relief operations during the Chennai floods. “I appeal to NGOs such as the Isha Foundation, the Art of Living Foundation and the Mata Amritanandamayi Math to come to the aid of the affected people,” he said.

Given the scale of the devastation, NGOs and corporates should supplement the government’s efforts to meet the requirements of those affected, said Arupathi S. Kalyanam, a farmer-leader.

“Big corporates should divert their Corporate Social Responsibility Funds to affected areas. They can build concrete houses for people whose huts and tiled houses have been damaged. The beneficiaries should be allowed to build the houses and the efforts can be supervised by special committees at the district level,” he said.

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