Anita Devi: “Safe water is the biggest challenge” 
East Champaran district, Bihar (India)

Anita Devi, in her mid-40s, is a formidable force when it comes to battling the odds. As president of Musahar Vikas Manch (Musahar Development Forum), Piprakothi block, Motihari – East Champaran district of Bihar, she is the pillar of support for some 450 Dalit (oppressed) families of Jhakra village ravaged by this year’s torrential rain and flood that has devasted north-eastern parts of India.

She spells out the trials and tribulations faced by the Musahars – a community of farm labourers and toilers in the city markets that ranks the lowest even amongst the Dalits.

Located largely in low-lying areas, their villages were inundated by rain and flood water on July 12-13 and remained waterlogged for much of the rest of the monsoon period. 

Cut off

“Most of us sought shelter on the road on the embankment – as they are always built on a higher level. Others took shelter on rooftops and whatever raised platforms they could find – 20-25 families at one place, and 50-60 families at another. Temporary bamboo shelters with tarpaulin tops were our only refuge.

“We were totally cut off for more than 10 days. After a couple of days, we ran out of food – and even before that, we were afraid to eat as we had no place to go for nature’s call. 

“Help came from our organisation – Samajik Shodh Evam Vikas Kendra (Social Research & Development Centre). They came with food – flattened rice (chura) and jaggery (gur) -- polythene sheets and medicines. Five tarpaulin sheets were later given by the elected headman of the village council (panchayat mukhia).

Relief for some

“Five temporary toilets were provided by our organisation SSEVK, which were put on the road for all the displaced families camping there. But in the village, it was difficult for everyone. With water everywhere, they had no place to go. Whatever they had to do had to be done from their shelters, or wade into the waters when it was not so high. It was very difficult for the women, as they had no cover.

“We could cook food only after 10-12 days when the waters started to recede. Earthen stoves (chullah) were built – with bricks and mud. These were community kitchens – food for 10-12 families cooked on each stove.

School swamped

“We have a school in the village. But that too got swamped – and teachers could not come due to the flood. As the water level has gone down, the teachers have started coming again from August 9. The school is now open again.

Safe water scarce

“More than food, drinking water is the main problem during floods. For those 10-12 days, we had no access to any fresh source. Hand pumps were under water. Now, we find that silt has blocked most of the hand pumps. 

Pulling together to prevent disease

“Now that people have started returning to their homes, we are sprinkling bleaching powder, giving halogen tablets and NCDCC tablets to purify water – and holding community meetings to work out ways to prevent diarrhea and other water borne diseases.

“In these meetings we give instructions on how to use ORS powder, specially for children with diarrhea – put a tablet in a litre of water, shake well, and then make children drink from in clean utensils after 10-15 minutes.

Kitted out

“We also tell them about Disposable Delivery Kits (DDK) – a very useful packet to assist child birth during such emergencies. It has a blade, cloth and thread – all necessary tools.

“There were no child deliveries during the critical period when we were cut off. Before the floodwaters hit, we had sent all pregnant women to the government hospital. There were the odd cases of fever, cough and cold.”