M A I N   N E W S

J-K flood fury Victims living in the Jammu region allege government apathy
No help in sight, Dalit family fends for itself
Dinesh Manhotra
Tribune News Service

Lalyal (Tawi Island), September 21
After having survived the wrath of floods, victims in the Jammu region have been forced to fend for themselves owing to official apathy. Womenfolk have been pushed to break their centuries old tradition and work along with male family members to save their children from starvation — all because of state government’s apathetic attitude towards flood-affected families of the region.

Balbir Chand and his wife Asha Devi rebuild their house at Lalyal village of Jammu on Sunday. Tribune photo: Inderjeet Singh

The rehabilitation exercise initiated both by the Centre and state governments is confined to some specific areas, they allege.

Balbir Chand and his family are one such example of how the authorities have forgotten to come to the aid of those in dire need of help.

This Dalit landless peasant family, which lived on the Tawi Island, lost everything in the devastating floods that struck on September 6. Balbir Chand’s house was located on the left side of the island.

A day after the floods, both the Centre and state governments announced a rehabilitation plan for all families. But even after two weeks of the announcement, nothing has been done on the ground, especially in villages dominated by the poor.

“The announcements made by the authorities to rehabilitate flood-hit families had revived my family’s hope.

But help is yet to come by,” said Balbir Chand.

“In the name of relief, only two bags — each carrying 10 kg of flour — have been given to us so far,” said his wife Asha Devi, who along with her sister-in-law has opened a tea stall in the corner of their hut to feed her children. Balbir Chand now works as a labourer in Jammu, while his wife manages the tea stall. “We were already struggling to make ends meet. But two days after the floods, we were on the verge of starvation,” said Balbir Chand. “Some locals initially extended some relief and financial help. But with no government help coming, we decided to piece it all together on our own.”

“Owing to the apathetic attitude of the government, I have been forced to make my wife and sister earn a living,” he said. In spite of big announcements made by the authorities, the condition of the victims was worsening, he claimed.

While Balbir Chand’s village is not situated far off from Jammu city, the authorities continue to ignore them as they seem to focus entirely on specific areas.

“Nobody wanted to miss the photo opportunity when two bags of flour were distributed to us. But after that, they have simply forgotten us,” said Asha Devi.