With the rain gods threatening not to come and to come they keep the people guessing. In the entire North of India the rains have failed causing drought. At the same time in some parts of Bengal and in neighbouring Bangaladesh people have nowhere to go because of the rains. While this is becoming more common there is one particular people who are particularly of major concern.
They live in thin plastic sheets which are supported by plastic boughs that form an arch. This is the entrance to their house. if you are 5 feet tall, beware you cant stand erect in your own house, your head is sure to hit the roof. The flooring is a plastic sheet laid over earth. Remember it is red earth. When the wind blows all those who sit outside the house will turn red. In fact almost all of them remain red. The hair especially is noteworthy. They have all be converted into red heads with little cosmetic efforts.
On the plastic sheet that forms a door outside their house is a small flap. it holds tooth brushes, tooth paste and other accessories. Since it is also exposed, it turns red.
All these days the sun was blazing hot and winds were blowing dry. Suddenly the rumbling skies brought out the much feared rains. They hoped against their hope that they would go back home before this moment. but they remain here.
The red soil turns to clay, houses become under passes for water. it is impossible to stay at home, it is impossible to step outside. So where to they go? Simple, go in search of shelter. The shelters are schools which are already full. it is difficult to find a toe space.
The nightmare comes when people have to go to the toilet. Usually they used the toilets inside the camps, since they are not enough they go to the OAT. (Open air toilets). With the rains, they just cant go out, even if they manage to go it is difficult to find a space to set foot. The place is so bad that even the OAT is flooded.
The food situation is worse. The community kitchens are also being flooded. It is difficult to get a fire going. Desperate attempts are made to continue with the cooking to feed atleast 2000 people from single kitchen. People are tired.
They knew that the rains would be the deadliest to handle. They hope that their woes will drain away with the water. What they feared most is here and they know that this too shall pass!
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2 comments:
Impressive, I agree, I often think about those who sleep on the pavement, life muct be hell for them. But the farmers may think other wise. Yes the rain Gods cant please the potter and the farmer, but maybe in its time, all things will be beautiful.
Excellent Article. Flood happens due to the failure of the state and central governments, who support construction of Industries, Buildings, Flats, etc in the low bed areas where lakes, ponds and river channerl are suppossed to be. This allows no place and makes no space for water to flow. Hence the poor people live in huts in the low bed areas are affected. Experiencing this problems every year and being responsible for citizens, State and Central Government must have to think and implement schemes as early as possible, so as to save the marginalized people and not to repeat the same in future.
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