WEATHERING THE STORM IN ERSAMA - Q&A

THINK ABOUT IT

1. What havoc has the super cyclone wreaked in the life of the people of Orissa?
Answer:
The super cyclone caused immense destruction and suffering in Orissa:
1. Physical Destruction: Houses were washed away or destroyed by uprooted trees. The wind velocity reached 350 km/h, and heavy rains caused floods that submerged everything except strong brick houses.
2. Loss of Life: Thousands of people lost their lives, and bloated animal carcasses and human corpses floated everywhere.
3. Isolation and Hunger: Survivors were marooned on rooftops for days without food, surviving only on tender coconuts from fallen trees.
4. Emotional Trauma: People were traumatized by the loss of their loved ones and possessions, living in constant fear and despair.

2. How has Prashant, a teenager, been able to help the people of his village?
Answer:
Prashant, though only 19 years old, emerged as a leader in the crisis:
1. Organizing Youth: He gathered a group of youths and elders to pressure the local merchant into giving them rice, ensuring no one starved.
2. Sanitation and Care: He organized teams to clean the shelter of filth, urine, vomit, and floating carcasses, and to tend to the wounds of the injured.
3. Relief Missions: He deputed children to lie on the sand with empty utensils on their stomachs to signal military helicopters for food drops.
4. Social Support: He brought orphaned children together and encouraged women to look after them, while men secured food and materials. He also organized sports and activities to help people mentally recover.

3. How have the people of the community helped one another? What role do the women of Kalikuda play during these days?
Answer:
Community Help: The community came together under Prashant's leadership. The youth and elders worked jointly to pressure the merchant for rice. They cleaned the shelter together and cared for the injured. Men procured food and materials for the shelter.

Role of Women: The women of Kalikuda played a crucial nurturing role. They were mobilized to look after the orphaned children. Later, when the "Food-for-Work" program started, the women worked in it but also continued to provide emotional support, helping to heal the trauma of the children and the community.

4. Why do Prashant and other volunteers resist the plan to set up institutions for orphans and widows? What alternatives do they consider?
Answer:
Why they resist: They resisted the government's plan to set up separate institutions because they felt that in such institutions, children would grow up without love, and widows would suffer from stigma and loneliness.

Alternatives: They considered setting up foster families within their own community. The idea was that the childless widows could care for the orphaned children, creating a supportive family unit where both could find love and belonging.

5. Do you think Prashant is a good leader? Do you think young people can get together to help people during natural calamities?
Answer:
Prashant as a Leader: Yes, Prashant is an excellent leader. Despite his own grief, he took charge of the situation, organized the community, solved immediate problems like food and sanitation, and thought of long-term rehabilitation. He led by example and gave hope to others.

Young People's Role: Absolutely. Young people have the energy, enthusiasm, and often the innovative thinking required in crises. As seen with Prashant, they can mobilize quickly, perform physically demanding tasks, and bring a spirit of optimism that can lift the morale of the entire community.

TALK ABOUT IT

Talk about the preparedness of the community for a natural disaster.
(You can talk about evacuation plans and rehabilitation; permanent safe shelters; warning systems; relief efforts; building materials to withstand cyclone/flood/earthquake, i.e. safe housing; peoples' organisation of their own rescue; the survival instinct, etc.)
Answer:
(This is a discussion topic. Here are key points to cover):
Preparedness involves several steps:
1. Warning Systems: Effective early warning systems (radio, SMS, sirens) are crucial to give people time to evacuate.
2. Safe Shelters: Communities should have designated strong buildings (like schools or community halls) on high ground that can withstand storms and floods.
3. Survival Kits: Families should keep emergency kits ready with dry food, water, torch, medicines, and important documents.
4. Drills: Regular mock drills help people know what to do and where to go during a disaster.
5. Community Organization: Like in Ersama, forming youth groups and volunteer teams beforehand can make rescue and relief much faster and more effective.