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Patna, Bihar, India
Born and brought up in Shillong, Meghalaya.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Fear of epidemics looming large in flood-hit Bihar

By Mudassir Rizwan, TwoCircles.net,

Patna: Full 25 days and the Bihar government assisted by the three wings of the Indian Army is yet to reach hundreds of marooned villages while lakhs of those who could reach relief camps are now facing epidemics.

Like other natural disasters, post-Kosi River flood, hundreds of people are suffering from diarrhea, cholera and other diseases in relief camps and the government is yet to provide sufficient medical assistance and medicines to the affected people, said health officials and doctors deputed at relief camps to TwoCircles.net.

Aman Foundation, Purnia

Talking to TCN Hasibur Rahman, Saraigarh block Health Manager in Supaul said, “I don't have any idea about how much aid has been given by the government, we didn't get much facility.”

He, however, admitted that the government has provided two ambulances and provide medical aid on call. “We are also getting anti-bacteria chemicals sprayed.

Dr Vinod Kumar Paswan, a Medical Officer from Supaul, told TCN that flood-affected people are now having flood diseases like dysentery, diarrhea, cough, fever, stomach pain, etc.

Against the requirements of medical assistance to flood victims, supply is very limited and insufficient. Though the government has provided some ambulances but the medical personnel are facing problem in reaching the villages still trapped in water.

"We are facing a lot of trouble in reaching those places, yet we are going there at our risk as the government has not provided much facilities and security to us.”

TCN asked Wasi Ahmed, a medical officer in Purnia, about health situation there. He said there is a fear of break out of epidemics. Skin disease besides diarrhea is the major problem.

He told TCN about Aman, an NGO which is playing a great role in providing medical assistance to the affected people.

Aman has sent a team of doctors there and has urged All India Medical Laboratory Technologist Association to extend help to the NGO. Aman has already allotted Rs 500,000 of which Rs 1,50,000 is for medical help.

The NGO is paying doctors attending its relief camps Rs 200 per day. There are 1305 affected people in Aman’s camp where majority is of Muslims. They include 503 women, 219 boys and 173 girls. The NGO is also providing them with clothes, food and milk to the children.

They are also arranging for Iftar and Sehri.

Army in, relief & rescue operation on in flood-hit Bihar

By Tarique Anwar and Mudassir Rizwan, TwoCircles.net,

Patna: Slight drop in the water level of Kosi River which swallowed nearly 100 people, as per official figure, and displaced lakhs of others, raised a ray of hope among the survivors of a sort of tsunami in North Bihar.

The water level of Kosi and its tributaries have descended in Madhepura, Purnia, Araria, Supaul and Saharsa districts of north Bihar in the last 24 hours as water level went down by 1-3 feet. These districts have been badly affected by the sudden and unprecedented flood. Now the Army is becoming successful in reaching remote villages of the districts to rescue the stranded people.

In Madhepura flood situation has reportedly improved up to a great extent in 22 blocks of the district. More than 10 lakh people in Kumar Khand, Shankarpur, Murliganj, Ada Shankarpur, Madhepura Sadar, Gowalpara, Bahadurganj, Chausa, Alam Nagar blocks of the district are affected with the flood.

Despite decrease in water level still 2-3 feet water is running inside Madhepura town. Rescue operation is being carried out at war level with collaboration of district administration and Army in the district. Army helicopters are dropping necessary items along with food packets in the areas. People are being brought to safety in large numbers with the help of motor boats. Although more than 40 thousands of people are believed to be trapped in Madhepura district alone.

In Supaul five blocks are facing destruction caused by this devastating flood brought by Kosi River. The district administration is conducting relief operation with the help of many organizations and 2.25 lakh people have been rescued so far. More than 9 lakh people are affected by the flood. About 43 relief camps have been set up in flood affected areas.

Chief Secretary, Emergency Management Department, Raj Kumar Singh said the state was equipped to rescue 50,000 people a day and was confident of accomplishing the goal of saving all the marooned people within next three days, barring any unexpected change in the situation.

Talking to TwoCircles.net Wasi Ahmad, a health official in government of Bihar and who is actively participating in relief works in Saharsa district, said the district has never witnessed flood like this before. Nearly 70-80 lakh people are badly affected in these districts. Relief works operated by the government are not sufficient. A large section of the trapped survivors are still not getting food, clothing, drinking water and medicines. Aerial dropping is not proving very much fruitful. “We have only received 1 lakh litre mineral water, small amount of food packets and some medicines so far after arrival of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh”.

He confirmed that many social and religious organizations like Imarat Shariah, Idara Shariah, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Aman, Himalaya Kalyan Sanstha are devotedly serving the people and providing food packets, cloths, drinking water, medicines to the people trapped in the flood.

According to the latest media reports the catastrophe has created massive loss of lives, displacement of millions of people, damage of millions of hectare of standing crops, acute scarcity of drinking water especially in submerged areas, total destruction of food stocks/houses, and much more.

The districts most affected are Supaul, Madhepura, Purnia, Khagaria, Araria, Saharsa, Bhagalpur, Katihar, etc. Over 40 lakhs (4 million) people are affected and uprooted leaving their homes, property, animals, families, and everything in the districts of Supaul. Madhepura is most affected district where 11 out of 13 blocks including Madhepura town have been under 6-ft deep water. Roads, highways, rail tracks are all submerged and damaged. Therefore, the boats remain to be the only means to rescue the people, but the government has not adequate number of boats.

Those who have somehow saved their lives or been rescued are staying at nearest dry places: railway stations, school building, other such public places.

Grassroots India Trust, Labour League Foundation, SEWA and SEDEM in collaboration of several other organizations of Delhi and Bihar have decided to contribute in relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction process in Bihar. They have formed two teams of committed social development workers and volunteers for delivering the relief material to the flood victims wherever they have been staying at the moment. Their national team based at Delhi coordinates the relief work and fundraising, while the state team executes the actual relief work.

In first stage, their relief work includes quick delivery of food, temporary shelter and medicines to the flood victims. In the second stage, they will support flood victims in rehabilitation and reconstruction works.

It has appealed all the concerned to contribute as much as possible in this difficult time for people of Bihar.

Some of the organizations actively involved in flood relief operation can be contributed as follows:

Idara Shariah

Idara Shariah Relief Fund A/C No. 1045

Central Bank, Muradpur Branch, Patna

Adress for sending cheque : Nazim Aala, Idara Shariah, Ashok Raj Path, Patna-6

Phone numbers: 0933 402 4022, 0930 451 4097

Aman Foundation, Purnea

Punjab National Bank, Patna Bihar (India)

Account No.-2968000101004418

Society Pan No. - AACTAO186F

Address- Mazaffaruzzman (Secretry)

Correspondence & Admistrative office

Mohammadia House, Sajjad Colony, Khazanchi Hat,

Purnea, Bihar (India) 854301

Contact No. 9934684786, 9431284786, 9431864835, 9771712372

E-Mail: foundation.aman@gmail.com

Imarat Shariah

Cheque or draft in favour of Baitul Mal Imarat Shariah, Patna.

Address: Imarat Shariah Phulwari Sharif Patna- 801505

Phone numbers: 0612- 2555668, 2555014, 2555351.

Fax: 0612- 2555280

Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind

Draft, cheque or monery order in favour of Jamiat Relief Committee, Bihar

Adress: General Secretary, Jamiatul Ulama-e-Hind, Bihar, Jharkhand

Madani Musafirkhana, Patna Junction, Patna -01

Phone Numbers: 0612-2219525, 0943 100 9514

Grassroots India Trust/Labour League Foundation/SEWA

In Cash/Kind:
Deposit at Our Collection Centres in Delhi, Chandigarh, Shimla

By Cheque (from India):

Drawn in favour of GRASSROOTS INDIA TRUST payable at New Delhi.

Send it by post to:

Administrator, Grassroots India Trust, 301 H-51/E, A. F. Enclave, Okhla, New Delhi – 110 025 India

By Cheque (from Foreign country):

Drawn in favour of SEWA payable at New Delhi (FCRA No. 231660884).

Send it by post to:

Secretary, SEWA, BVK 3/4, New Seelampur (Brahmpuri Mod), Delhi – 110 053 India.

By direct Bank Transfer (from India):
Name of Account Holder: Grassroots India Trust
Account Number: 279010100007207
Name of Bank: AXIS Bank

Address of Bank: 18 Netaji Subhash Marg, Daryaganj, New Delhi – 110 002

SWIFT Code: CHASUS33

By direct Bank Transfer (from Foreign country):
Name of Account Holder: SEWA
Account Number: SB/CA 3092000100198100
Name of Bank: Punjab National Bank
Address of Bank: 4, L-Block, Connaught Place, New Delhi – 110 001
SWIFT Code: PUNB inbbdod

In case of any query please contact the following:

Dr. M. Mukhtar Alam, Chairman Labour League Foundation, 62A, DDA Flats, Ashok Vihar-III, Delhi – 110 052, Tel: +91-9968345380 E-mail: mukhtaralam2000@yahoo.com

Mr. H. Arjjumend, Executive Director, Grassroots India Trust, 1st Floor, Royal Apartment, J-68 A. F. Enclave, Okhla, New Delhi – 110 025, Tel: +91-9868993710 E-mail: grassrootsindiatrust@gmail.com, trust@grassroots.org.in Website: www.grassroots.org.in, www.grassrootsglobal.net

When you send a Cheque or Transfer the amount, kindly intimate through e-mail or by post to all or any of the above contacts.

A young photojournalist captures a rare thing in North Kashmir

By Reyaz Ganai, NAK

Baramulla : He (Allah) is ubiquitous so are His signs and names. This was evident when a young photographer in Kashmir’s North district of Baramulla caught glimpses of the word ALLAH formed by clouds.

It is said that Photography is all about being at the right place at the right time and a similar thing happened to the young photo journalist.

Showkat Nanda, a young photographer, who happened to catch the glimpse of Word Allah after flashing a glimpse towards sky.

It was around 12 noon when the photographer observed an extraordinary pattern being formed in the sky, Showkat told NAK.

"When I took a glance at the sky, it was something unique to capture, as I saw an indiscernible pattern of clouds forming word ALLAH. I was really surprised and I observed it for a while and continued to click with my camera," Showkat Nanda, hailing from North Kashmir's Baramulla town told News Agency of Kashmir.

Pointing finger towards the word ALLAH, people recited the verses of the Holy Quran, uttering graciousness of Almighty ALLAH.


Hindu students of Quran

By Mudassir Rizwan, TwoCircles.net,

Patna: Madrasa Madinat-ul Islam is just like any other Madarsa in India. But a few students make this Madarsa different and very special. These students are Ashish Vidyarthi and Hemlata. They are the children of Mr. Dilip Kumar Chaudhury, an Indian Railway employee.

Ashish is 6-years-old and Hemlata is 9-years-old. They are studying the Holy Quran and the Urdu language at Madarsa Madinat-ul-Islam. It is situated in Khagaul, near Danapur Railway Station, Patna, Bihar. They are also studying in a local English medium School. Hemlata is studying in class IV and Ashish in class I. Their hectic schedule begins in the early hours of the morning. They return from school by 1 pm and after short break they head to the Madarsa immediately. They complete their studies in Madarsa by 4 pm. Their school teachers have pointed out to Mr. Chadhuri that the Madarsa education will put extra burden on Hemlata and Ashish. Mr. Chaudhri’s reply to the teachers was that any suffering in search of knowledge should be appreciated.


Ashish Vidyarthi and Hemlata

In an Interview with TwoCircles.net, Hemlata said "I was learning The Holy Quran to understand Islam and striving to be a Hafiza (female who memorize whole Quran) because I wanted to get enriched with all kinds of knowledge. She added that acquiring knowledge of any religion is a good practice."

She also mentioned that some of the neighbors had objected and remarked about studying in a Madarsa. They are continuing at the Madarsa due to their parents's strong motivation and support. Initially school friends used to ask Hemlata, why are you studying the Quran? In her elegant response she asked, why you are studying Hindi or English in school? Now school friends are very co-operative and understanding. Neighboring Muslims have empathy with them and are happy that they being Hindu are learning the Quran.

Presently she is reciting Aampara (30th Part of the Quran) and has completed Urdu Quaida, Yasarnal Quran. Younger brother, Ashish has started with Urdu Qaida.



Madarsa teacher Hafiz Mohammed Azmat Hussain appreciated the fact that Hemlata and Ashish are intelligent and able to memorize whatever they are taught in the Madarsa with ease, so they do not have to spend much time revising at home. He added she has a strong will to acquire knowledge. Other students of Madarsa are also supportive of Hemlata and Ashish.


Ashish Vidyarthi and Hemlata with parents

When father Dilip Kumar Chaudhry was asked about his motive behind enrolling his children in the Madarsa, he replied, "I was always attracted to the Quran from childhood as I had seen my father's close friend teaching the Quran". He added, I want my children to do well in life by gaining knowledge of different kinds of education especially from the Quran.


When reminded about media reports of terrorism and extremism being taught in Madarsa. He rejected this allegation and added this is not true, “Madarsas provide education like any other educational institution, they teach about Islam, justice, truth, service to humanity and love, not terrorism". He added, “Madarsas are being wrongly projected by the Media.”

This Madarsa is supervised by Maulana Mohammed Amanullah Qadri and it is run with the help of donations given by local people. There are 11 teachers and about 130 students presently studying here and the management has plans to provide modern education to its student in future.

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