Kaisar Inamdar, who runs the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Seva, is stuck with half a truckload of old clothes he does not know what to do with. They have been sent by various people from across the State for the flood victims in north Karnataka region.
“We started collecting old clothes after we learnt that flood victims are in need of them, but now we are getting reports that they have adequate clothes,” he said. Azeem Inamdar, who runs the NGO Kranti Association, said, “Initially, when we supplied old clothes in flood-affected areas, people came forward to take them. But now they are saying they need clothes but not to wear. They need blankets and clothes that can be used to make quilts as they have enough clothes to wear.”
Food material
There is a similar mismatch in the food material that is coming their way. Most flood victims are getting cooked food from both government and philanthropists, but that is not their priority at the moment. “They are saying that since they will be going back to their houses after water recedes, they will be in need of ration and other materials that they can use to restart their lives. The victims have use for cooked food so long they are in the rehabilitation centres, but when they go back to their houses, nobody will supply cooked food. They will need ration to prepare food for themselves,” Mr. Azeem Inamdar said.
He added that besides ration, the victims wants other materials such as soaps, detergents, and vessels to start life after going back to there houses. Local people in flood-affected areas in Jamkhandi and Bagalkot also voiced similar sentiments that those sending relief material should now shift focus on things that would help victims restart their life.
Grain and flour
Speaking to The Hindu from Gokak, Santosh Shirguppi, a volunteer who is working with other activists to provide relief to the flood victims, said people need grain such as rice, edible oil, and pulses.
“Instead of wheat and jowar it is better if they give flour as people can use it directly. If they give grain, people will find it difficult to find flour mills in this situation,” he said. He added that since most of them have lost everything, so plates, vessels to cook food, spoons, glasses, plastic buckets, and such material would also be useful.
He advised the donors to take details of the affected persons and places from taluk administration, so that useful materials could be collected and reached to the needy directly.
