HIGH FIVE

Fifth Mission

The fifth mission is completed – at 3 am of night. We have a fabulous trip this time - reached during ebb tide and had to wade through more than a km of sticky mud to reach chargheri, our launch got stuck in mud during low tide and delayed our return journey by almost 2 hours, we had a scaring car journey from Godkhali to Kolkata in torrential rain with visibility less than 15 m, our people back home were too worried. But we are very satisfied. We could distribute almost 2500 kg of rice among 671 families in our list (total 721) in little over three hours. Our card system worked fine. Indeed there were some complaints like someone's child is not ocunted in card or one or family members will be one more. We asked all to take their grievances to our local volunteers from Purbasha. But if anyone with a child in his/her lap complained about missing a child's count in card, he/she was obliged with a milk packet even if the it is not marked in card. This time with 1 kg of rice per head (for two weeks), we also distributed one Arum (kachu) per family and powdered milk for families who has children of age between 1 to 6 years. The Arum received good response from the vilalgers. We went to Chargheri this time with 2700 kgs of rice, 440 kgs of arum, 185 milk powder packets (full courtesy to our Khelaghar friends) and medicine worth Rs 3000. We mainly gathered medicine for common problems like worms, skin problems, stomach troubles, but a doctor remains ever elusive – we need a doctor who can help the villagers with right medicine.
Will any young doc volunteer ?

Are we missing out some?

we have finished our distribution and suddenly found a few anxious faces from the Parashmani village. They didn’t featured in the list, and despite our requests, that we cannot accommodate anyone outside the list, they waited all day. Their look says clearly they are real needy but it’s a dilemma. If we start accommodating people outside our list, again the old problem will come back, we cannot handle the whole Chargheri arew. Somewhere we have to stop, but it is tough to ignore people's hunger.
In such helpless situation the old question comes back in mind: what the Government is doing?? Why they are not still taking a proactive role? We cannot satisfy the whole Sunderbans.

Felicitation

Purbasha, the Eco-tourism group of Chargheri, responsible for setting up the local volunteer team for distribution of our relief material, with the villagers, arranged for a felicitation of PAKT members. Extremely embarrassing for us. We put all kind of resitance, logic etc etc. , but finally has to succumb to their sentimental requests. It is a simple and touching function - all of us were garlanded by local people and sweets were offered. We briefly explained about our future plan to continue at least till September end and mentioned about all the supports we are recieving from the friends of PAKT, who are not physically present there but providing us resources.

Back to life?

We heard a mike blaring out in Chargheri and came to know that the contractor engaged in temporary repair of embankment is organising a Kali puja, to celebrate the success of finally preventing the water from entering the village. When waiting in our mud stuck launch – we heard from far, a little sweet voice reciting “mone kore jeno bidesh ghure ‘ – then a folk song on Aila (I could hear a line”henokale Aila elo”). Cultural program on the occasion of the Kali Puja. So people of the village are coming back to life slowly. We salute this spirit and that is why we want to help these people. But some assistance remains illusive. We heard that the local Panchayat member Mr Mandal has assured that the Rs 10,000/- assistance from Government for reconstruction of houses will reach before the pujas. Still no sign of that! We can just hope that the government will take care of their need for a home before the pujas.