BARPETA, July 22 - The district administration here has been providing relief material to the flood-affected people like rice, dal, salt, wheat bran, drinking water etc.
Though the items supplied so far are not adequate for equal distribution among the flood-hit multitude, yet they have brought some succour to the marooned people. At the same time, a number of benevolent persons, NGOs and organisations have come forward to help the distressed people who have been reeling under the onslaught of floods and compelled to live a miserable life on roads, embankments or relief camps.
The Red Horns Division of the Indian Army based at Ganakkuchi near Barpeta organised health check-up camps for the flood-affected people in the vicinity of the town. More than 2,000 flood-affected people of Patbausi, Kahikuchi, Majkuchi and Ganakkuchi availed the facilities offered at the health check-up camps. The patients were provided the required medicines free of cost.
Renowned artiste Dikshu arrived here on Saturday and visited the flood-affected areas. He distributed food items like rice, dal, flattened rice, puffed rice, biscuits, mustard oil and clothes to those people putting up in the relief camps and makeshift tents along the roadside.
The artiste was accompanied by a number of his colleagues as the drive was organised by Dikshu Initiative, an organisation of his followers. Expressing shock over the devastation caused by the flood in Barpeta district, Dikshu said that he will continue to help the distressed people with the limited resources available with him. He also informed that several artistes under the leadership of Zubeen Garg will organise a special drive to collect flood relief in Guwahati very soon.
In the meantime, NGO Medini provided food and sanitary items to the inmates of the relief camps of Baniyakuchi Primary School, Panchagram Prgati Sangh, Bengapara LP School, Kamarpara LP School, Lachima Kirtanghar and Sarukshetri High School under Sarthebari Revenue Circle. The volunteers of the NGO also reached the people living in the roadside areas.
Sarthebari Panchkhel Gaya Gayaraha too provided a huge quantity of relief material to the flood victims under their jurisdiction. Assam Bel Metal Utensils Co-Operative Society helped the victims by providing food.
Several groups of youth though unorganised helped the victims of the calamity to a great extent. Workers of the ruling BJP also reached the victims with food and sanitary items. Apart from them, a number of benevolent persons were seen providing a helping hand. The assistance of the benevolent organisations and persons have not only relieved the afflicted people of their woes but also enhanced their mental strength to fight and surmount the momentary odds.
What ails the suffering people is that some political parties and organisations who often approach them for participating in agitations on issues concerning the state, have not enquired about their collective plight at this hour of distress. It is a matter of grave concern that a few political parties, often claiming to represent farmers and the labour class, have refrained from visiting to flood-affected areas and taking stock of the marooned people�s welfare.
