Applauding the State Officials who speedily responded to children and community members severely affected by floods, lack of livelihoods and housing
Posted on February 24, 2020
For children and community members from Ballari, Belagavi and Bagalakote reeling under the aftermath of floods and struggles with the numerous drawbacks related to the MGNREGA implementation, arriving at Bangalore prior to the beginning of the Karnataka State Assemble sessions to voice their frustrations, challenges and deep pain have been a struggle in itself. The State Government has failed to devolve governance to the Panchayats as upheld by the Grama Swaraj Act and so issues that should be addressed at the panchayats, close to the people, have been transferred, piece-meal to multiple departments which have been functioning very arbitrarily, without any accountability mechanisms – as seen clearly in relation to flood management, MNREGA, housing schemes to name just a few.
The glimmer of hope for the children and community members has been the positive and constructive response they have received from a few of the State Level Officials who made time to meet with them and gave them very attentive hearings. The community members said, “Our Taluk level officials have never spared even 5 minutes to talk to us, these officials have given us an hour”, in appreciation.
The Commissioner of Public Instruction, Mr. K.G Jagadeesha has taken immediate actions. One of the outcomes of it was that the very next day, the Deputy Director of Public Instruction of Bagalakote reached the office of the Block Education Officer in Mudhol, to interact with children, headmasters and community members to address their requirements related to distribution of the second set of textbooks, provision of additional tutors, special coaching for children appearing for exams, sports facilities and shoes for all. He has also announced support to provide transportation to children who have to walk a long way to reach school and also looked into road repairs where children’s commute was affected, as per the directions of the Commissioner. The Commissioner has issued directions to all DDPIs, with special emphasis on flood-affected districts. He also informed children about the 758 Crores have been allocated for school repairs which could commence soon.
The Director of Integrated Child Protection Scheme, Ms. Pallavi Akarathi, after a detailed discussion, has assured children and community members that she will ensure that her department will provide safe places for children to recover, study in preparation for the exams, etc. at least as a short term measure until their homes are repaired; provide support to children who have been orphaned or have single parents to receive scholarships and/or provide full-time state care if there are no relatives who can care for them; Offer counseling support with the help of trained counselors who are present in different districts wherever required, provide scholarships and care for children who are extremely vulnerable such as those whose parents are affected by HIV or children living in Devadasi communities, provide compensation for the demise of the child from Theertha panchayat, now stuck in bureaucracy. She has offered to do a quick mapping of hostels and other residential facilities available with multiple departments and to share a list with us so that if they are appropriate, children and young persons could make use of it.
Another officer who deserves an appreciative mention is Mr. Srinivas H Marangappanavar who is the MGNREGA Chief operating officer of Karnataka. Following his detailed discussions with community members, he called concerned officials right away and initiated action against violations by officers such as delay in providing jobs, demanding work from workers even after the completion of the assigned task. He has assured that MGNREGA funds due from the central government are likely to arrive soon and payment will follow. He was open to our suggestions for the inclusion of certain jobs. He has committed to follow up on the demand for labour cards for MNREGA workers. A toll-free number 1800 4258666 was shared by him to reach his team at all times for any problems or queries.
The Director of the State Disaster Management Authority, Ms. Honnamba, met with members of Athani, Khanapur and Raibaug blocks. Assurance has been given that within 15 days the issues raised would be addressed as recommended by the Deputy Commissioner of Belagavi. She has assured us to have discussions regarding flood preventive measures after the budget session – concerning the roles and responsibilities of all levels of the government. She considered our recommendations related to effective relocations from the river basin and for discussions to be held with community members in the presence of the Deputy Commissioner. She has assured that she will bring our points up with the Principal Secretary for follow up.
Many other officers too demonstrated similar accountability to children and communities, especially those who are rendered vulnerable due to circumstances and poor governance. As a result of our intervention by exposing the mismanagement with respect to relief and rehabilitation measures to children and communities affected by flood in the Northern parts of Karnataka, a total of 150 children have received temporary transportation facilities as directed by the DDPI in Mudhol taluk, Bagalkot district. Happy to share some of the captures of children going to school in the temporary transportation arrangement.
Read the detailed press note released at the State level press conference on 17th February, here: PressNote_PostFloodReliefandRehabilitationMeasures(StateLevelAdvocacyCampaign)_16022020_CWC
Read the press coverage here:
