Impact of the super cyclone: myths & realities

Abdul Safique

Paper presented at the conference Livelihoods and Poverty Reduction: Lessons From Eastern India, 25-27 September 2001, by Abdul Safique, Lokbikash, Orissa

Introduction

Though the state  experiences natural disasters such as cyclone and floods at regular intervals. The sheer intensity of this cyclone was unanticipated and hence all the traditional coping mechanisms failed. The two cyclones, with attendant rains and tidal waves left over thirteen million people in 97 blocks and 28 municipalities of 12 coastal districts and adjacent areas affected.

As per official estimate, nearly eight thousand people died, although the figure is believed to be much more higher. Countless animal were killed, innumerable trees uprooted, crops destroyed, individual and common property damaged, communication links broken, services such as education, health and public distribution system disrupted and infrastructure badly damaged. The period of strike being just before harvest time, people lost their standing crops, the only source of livelihood for majority households for this area dependent on agriculture economy. Most of the households lost their asset base such as farmers loosing farmland to sand, livestock that ploughed and provided milk and artisans losing implements.

This worst ever crisis of the century had left panic over the area. Relief and restoration had undertaken by the Government and non-Government organisation with  encompassed sympathy and support from all over the world including several state governments. Permanent relief and restoration operations had run for moths together. With coordinated effort and committed services, normalcy resumed in the nearly after one year.

Though the losses caused due to the cyclones are enormous and it is very difficult to substantially make up all, many steps have been undertaken. Sincere efforts were taken to identify the victims and provide possible helps. But a general phenomenon developed among the people that there is enough money available for the reconstruction activities.

Still there are pockets exist where this support package has not reached  in a fairly manner. Adequate compensation packages have not been carried for them. A study is now underway to know  the extent of loss caused by the super cyclone and compensation package offered to the people and the reactions of the people to the calamity and response of the government.  As the study has a direct linkage with the livelihoods aftermath of disaster, the same has been placed in the workshop.

Objectives & Rationale

Objectives of the study:

To understand the efforts of the people/community to cope with the disaster.

To know the extent of relief and rehabilitation measures taken up by the Government and NGOs.

To find out the discrimination in relief operation to ST/SC and general caste people, if any.

Universe of the  Study:

Two districts of Orissa, namely Jajpur and Kendrapara have been taken for the study. The study was conducted in Sanjay Nagar hamlet of Darpan village of Jajpur district having a population of 401 with 70 households of which 55 households are ST, 15 General Category of people. Similarly, Badpal village in Badpal GP of Keondrapara district was covered in the study. 30 families of the village were covered under the study. The following table sow the distribution of respondents :

Table  2.1

Sample size
Altogether 100 family heads were taken as the respondent for the study. The following table shows the representation of the respondents:

Table 2.2

Tools and Methodology followed

The study has been  adopted the qualitative methods for information collection from both primary and secondary sources of information. The quantitative data collected and analysed to justify the authenticity of the qualitative information wherever necessary. The information collected through structured interview schedule, group-discussions, focus-group discussion, observation and a few case studies of the activities of Gram Panchayat. A checklist has been used for data collection for using the all methods. The details of issues and methodologies are as under:  

The study considered each households of the sample area as a unit of the study. Accordingly all the functionaries of the hamlet were covered. Similarly to cross check the information from  officials like Block Development Officer, Block Extension officers, Line Department Officials have been taken.

The observation was one of the key activities in the process of information gathering during the field visits. To learn the real process and outcome of the relief operation and restoration programme few focus group discussions were organised.

The research also considered at least few development schemes such as  PDS (Public Distribution System), Jawahar/Swarna Jayanti Swarojgar Yoajna (Public works employment) and  Indira/Samagra Awas Yojana(Social housing) in the research area. To draw sensible conclusions on relief and restoration, the case studies were provided the insight knowledge about the complexity of getting a sanction to the ground and its impact on village livelihoods.

An overall comparative assessment of allocation of fund and resources made available to the villages, to determine the idea of government’s priority of allocating the resources and fund to a particular village. The research also made same analysis to conceptualise the basis of allocation of fund to the research village by the Gram Panchayat. The analysis will also determine the criteria adopted by the Gram Panchayat for allocating the fund and resources. For example: number of BPL household, tribal household, relatively less community resources and infrastructures in the village etc.

Limitations of the Study

Since it was already 24months passed, respondents have forgotten some of the information.

Since some of the government officials have been transferred it was difficult  to collect the required feedback from them.

Date Compilation & Analysis

The questionnaire was developed keeping in mind the various aspects affecting the society during disaster and its aftermath. The present questionnaire was divided into four parts. Under personal belongings prone to disaster the following areas were covered under the study :

The following table shows the status of the roof of the house of the respondents.

Table 3.1

It is clear from the above table that 96.00% of respondents had straw thatched roofs which highly vulnerable to cyclone.

The following table shows the status of the wall of the house of the respondents .

The following table shows the main occupation of the respondents .

The following table shows the loss and damage of the respondents in the super cyclone.

The following table shows the difficulties arose for the respondents after the super cyclone.

From the above tables it is clear that the people were suffered a lot during and after the cyclone.

The 2^nd part of the questionnaire dealt with disaster preparedness knowledge and presence of mind of the people in handling the difficult situation during the cyclone. The respondents were asked about their previous experience with disaster. The following responses were gathered from the respondents:

Table 3.6

It is clear from the table that people have been experienced in coping mechanism to disasters. But the degree of super cyclone was beyond their imagination. They started protecting themselves against the heavy wind and rainfall during the super cyclone but their preparedness was too late.

There were some subjective questions at the end of the 2^nd part. The responses were also descriptive. But over all expression was there are a lot of lessons to them during and after the super cyclone. The following table presents the same:

Table 3.7

The third part dealt with relief and restoration measures extended to the people. The respondents expressed their satisfaction over the support the extended to them soon after the disaster, either by GO or NGO. But they  were not assisted in the long run. The following table presents the matter:

Table 3.8 

The following table shows the list of reconstruction of community assets and individual supports were proposed for the victims. Interestingly the respondents of both the villages have expressed that neither individual nor community assistance were provided to them.

Table 3.10 

The last part dealt with the discrimination in relief services. The respondents have no where given a clear message. On the contrary, they have expressed their grief that Government have not responded to their needs and problems even their loss is in no way less than others.    

Major Findings

The followings are some of the findings from the study :

The rate of devastation was equal in comparison to surrounding villages. There was large scale devastation in the whole area during the super cyclone. There was complete lack of idea and interest among the people towards disaster mitigation. People had a single thought that the cyclone will not raise to a high scale. Rather it would be suppressed after few hours. This was the danger mostly in the sea shore. Due to saline inundation many people were washed away. All traditional coping mechanism were failed.

Nearly 28% houses have been completely demolished. Many of the houses in the study area were made of clay wall with straw thatching. With heavy wing, the roof was blown. The cyclone was followed by unprecedented rainfall. With insistent rainfall walls were collapsed. This rendered the people homeless. During cyclone there was every fear of  collapse of the house. People were not in a position to leave their house initially. There was no safer place in the villages also.

Crop loss was 100% in all the areas hit by the super cyclone. The cyclone hit the area during such a period when there was standing crop in the field through out the cyclone hit areas. While in interior part the paddy was about to be ripen, it was at the midlife in the coast. With whirling storm, heavy rainfall and saline inundation there was no chance of survival of the crops. In some parts, the autumn paddy was just harvested and stored. Those were also lost.

No permanent community place in the village to take shelter during the cyclone. In both of the village there were no permanent completed RCC structure for public use. During cyclone people were in their houses and did not wish to come out. Even though there was sufficient warning and repetition of the gravity of the situation in the mass media, people gave less importance. Again there was no adequate space in the villages where people cane taken a safe shelter.

((Government officials reached in late in the villages. Starting from the state to block level officials, the situation was completely new. All were stunned and took time to realise the gravity of the situation. The priority action was to take a stock of their own family situation. The roads were blocked by uprooted trees and cut by flood water making inaccessible to pedestrians even. This took the Government officials to contact the villages a long time. The attention of the Government was diverted to worst affected areas. Hence the periphery areas were neglected. 

Relief materials were scanty considering the need of the people. The people virtually lost everything in the cyclone. There were cases of people starving for 3-4 days. Communication was the biggest  barrier in providing food relief. Mismanagement of relief goods was also contributed a lot to this problem. Due to barriers in communication enough food materials have not been placed in needy areas. Relief was also concentrated in some pockets.

Response of NGO to relief and restoration was recognised by the people. The NGO personnel rushed to the inaccessible pockets with what ever they have. Their primary job was to console the most vulnerable people and help them to get necessary support. They also arranged cooked food for the victims. They were instrumental for  organising community for common cleanliness and sanitation in the villages. They have  also helped in getting support for the people from the government agencies.))

No access to Government declared subsidies by the poor and marginalized was felt. After cyclone Government has promoted certain schemes and  made the process simple for some scheme to provide easy access to the poor and marginalized. A consumption loan was introduced. Food For Work scheme was undertaken by Government and other agencies in large scale. But the facilities were not availed by all the people.

Landless were not entitled for house damage grant. The Government has declared a  grant of Rs, 3000/- for completely washed away house, Rs. 2000/- houses suffering severe damage and Rs. 1000/ for houses suffering  partial damage. But the selection was absolutely done by the revenue department. There was reported to be a wide range malpractice. There was virtually no applicable rule for scrutiny of the beneficiary. It was so happen that there were 4 to 5 claimant of the grant in one family. But surprisingly, people having houses on Government land since last 20 years or more were  not eligible for getting house damage grant.

Prevalence of traumatic condition was high in the area. The range of devastation was so high that people have lost their family members in front of them. It was so happened that there were lone survivors in the family. Matter of property and other loss was enormous. The condition was precarious in many places. 

Suggestions & Recommendations 

Since disasters are common and frequently hit Orissa, some activities should be thought out to prevent large scale damages. Though the study is not yet completed, there are some interim suggestions as expressed by the people. Some of them are briefly presented below:

Extension of Community Based Disaster Preparedness (CBDP) activities from experimental to common mass. The people in past had their own traditional coping mechanism. But in the changing situation the new generation is far away from that system. Now the consecutive disasters have raised our eyebrow and desperately bang to go for wide spread CBDP activities. There are certain experiments and demonstrations on this. But the time has come for rigorous exercise and planning of the same in all parts of the state. As the state is prone to various disasters like flood, cyclone, heat wave, cold wave and earthquake. All the areas should be covered under the disaster mitigation programme.  

Provision of Disaster Shelter Belt in various place. There was massive loss to tree crop in the state due to the super cyclone. It was evident that the villages surrounded by  trees were less affected. Hence, there is need of raising shelter belts around the settlements. This may include a green belt along the coast. Also plantations at community land, personal land and degraded forest areas. The people will be involved in the plantation process from the beginning so that they will develop genuine interest for raising tree and forest. Keeping the loss of horticultural plants in mind, steps may be taken to raise those species in backyard areas.

Revision of Relief Code and provision of adequate support to the needy people. As it is seen the prevailing rate of grant for loss and damage is very low, care should be taken to raise the  amount substantially. Taking the socio-economic condition of the household support amount should be decided.

No discrimination in providing basic services should be ensured. Political and bureaucratic influence has mostly affected the smooth and systematic operation of relief and rehabilitation services. There should be a comprehensive benchmark exercise to prepare a  realistic contingency plan for future disasters.

Enough food materials to the household to manage at least for fifteen days. Disaster warning system should be followed with storage of sufficient food materials. It is a well known fact that the disasters break communication systems frequently. Hence mini go downs should be established to store basic necessary materials for the use at the time of need.

These are some of the suggestions and recommendations of the study.