My Experiences during Mahad Relief Work, 2021

 Being a Socially responsible Individual (ISR), with a lot of empathy that whenever and wherever a natural disaster broke, we tried our best to help out our fellow men. Be it Tsunami 2006 or Nepal floods or Kerala disaster or Kolhapur floods, V. K. Memorial Welfare Association (VKMWA) has extended help and support to the extent possible either directly or in association with other organizations, carrying similar thought process.

The news of 22^nd July, 2021 flash floods at Chiplun and Mahad were heartbreaking. We got an opportunity to be a part of the relief campaign through my ex-student and a very socially responsible person – Mr. Rakesh Nandurkar. Shivswapn Trekkers, a socially responsible group of young guns, and Swachandi, another trekking group. They had already announced details about the collection of relief materials at various places in Mumbai.

VKMWA provided its library space and also, XII students at Heramb agreed to volunteer. Around 40 students volunteered during the 2 days for sorting, packing, and preparing kits to be distributed amongst the needy people. The entire help was supervised by volunteers of both groups as well.

After the kits were ready, it was very difficult for the entire team to locate a village where actual help was needed. Many local contacts confirmed that enough help had reached and there was hardly any place left out. This put the team’s morale down but since the collection was already done and ready, it was decided to take the plunge and move. With Rakesh and Manish at the helm of affairs, they briefed their respective teams, shared the situation on hand, and convinced the members to be ready for challenges as may arise.

The travel was planned on the night of 30^th July. As planned, the teams reached Ms. Anita Gole’s house in the morning and the inputs we received from locals were helpful to mark two villages in the interior where real help was needed.

Without wasting time the teams set off for the task.

The first village was ‘Sakhar gaav’ in which ‘Sutarwadi’ had around 30 houses badly damaged by the flash floods. Having provided the help, we moved on to the next village around 30kms apart, ‘Kol gaav’. Here around 54 families were affected and our kits brought a smile to the face of a few villagers. The ‘Sarpanch’ of Kol village praised our efforts to make such a wonderful kit.

The kit made by our team included 27 items which not only included essential of Rice, Wheat flour, Oil, variety of species, biscuits, dresses for children, men, women, plus one mat, one blanket, a bucket, a mug, 2 steel plates, 2 glasses and 2 cups. If this was too much, we took care to include basic medicines needed for each family and the women troop in the gang ensured to pack sanitary pads and innerwear for women folks of the village. A true kit that would help one family survives for a month.

The credit for such a thoughtful kit goes to all donors who donated wholeheartedly to the extent possible. The spirit of Mumbai rocks!!!

Thereafter, a few kits were distributed in Mahad city based on a reference received from a team member.

All these activities ensured the Sun God moved into the relaxation stage going into oblivion. It was getting darker and hence the remaining kits were handed over to Anita (our local contact) for distribution over the next two-three days to the neediest people.

Such activities bring out a lot of calmness to the otherwise restless mind. The heart is filled with emotions – fear, anger, helplessness seeing the inefficiency of the Government to come to the rescue immediately. They will help but after a lot of red-tapism in their own sweet time.

Such experiences add to your humbleness and are in a state of gratitude for all the things we have.

This entire act has an impact on my personal life as well. Hoping for the affected people to come out of the shell and lead a normal life as soon as possible.

The only negative feedback I would like to add here is a lot of help has reached the affected places and every organization which is collecting relief materials must ensure to proceed at least after a month. Ground-level reality states that now a few crooked minds have started hoarding the help extended and the stock is so high that it would suffice for over a year at least.

As we were exiting the Mahad City, we found 15-16 trucks of help parked at the outskirts of Mahad city, which meant more help was guaranteed the next day as well. The questions which arose in my mind – Will it reach the needy ones actually? Will it be hoarded by the greedy gang again? Will the help and sympathy of donors be respected?

Many painful thoughts lingering in my mind, brings back to my memory, a statement which I had written many years ago – THE PROBLEM OF SURPLUS IS GRAVER THAN THE PROBLEM OF SCARCITY.

Be careful and Alert when you donate!!!

Finally, I thank Rakesh and Manish for giving me an opportunity to serve society. The entire team was awesome and the energy the team carried was not only vibrant but pious too. 

A standing ovation to all young dynamic minds!!!

CA Dr. Vishwanathan H Iyer

02/08/2021