Relief work in South and North 24 Parganas after Cyclone Yaas

May 26, 2021, saw another addition to the list of violent cyclones in the Sundarbans. The entire Sundarbans, including the coastal areas of East Midnapore, South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas, was again devastated by the landfall on the Orissa coast. While the exact amount of damage can never be known; agriculture, fish farming, animal husbandry, trade and commerce have all been affected. Around 10 lakh people had to be brought to safe shelters. 

According to various sources, the impact of cyclone Yaas in various areas and villages in South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas districts caused dangerous damage to the property, as seawater had dangerously swelled and dams in various places collapsed. Various villages were completely inundated by the floods. Mud houses of many people in the village were destroyed by the storm or by the tidal wave, forcing villagers to take shelter in the flood centres. As the tide rose, the river overflowed in different villages and whole villages were submerged. For a while, there was nothing left to help the helpless people. Crops grown in the field got flooded with saltwater, leaving them very worried about their immediate future.

After the landfall, PBKMS rushed to provide relief and assist speedy rehabilitation, in the Sundarbans.  We provided 10Kg Bleaching and 60Kg Lime powder each, in villages of Nandakumarpur, Kumropara, Kankandighi, Namkhana, Narainpur anchals of South 24 Parganas (as of 14th June 2021) to clean the water sources and to purify drinking water. More than 70 quintals of Lime powder and 10 quintals of Bleaching powder has been provided to villages committees of different blocks of South 24 Parganas like Gosaba, Patharpratima, Kulpi and Kakdwip, to be spread in the next few days

. 

Similarly, in Hasnabad, Minakhan, Kholapota, Sandeshkhali blocks of ​​North 24 Parganas, PBKMS has extended a helping hand to the people affected by the cyclone. 250 Kg Bleaching powder and 1400Kg Lime powder has been provided in 25 villages of the district.

District	Block	GP	Village	Lime (kg)	Bleaching (kg)
South 24 Parganas	Kultali		Kundakhali	200	50
	Kultali		Bhubeneswari	1550	1050
	Kultali		Moipith
	Kultali		Deoulbari Devipur
	Mathurapur 2	Nandakumarpur		600	100
	Mathurapur 2	Kumropara		300	50
	Mathurapur 2	Kankandighi		400	50
North 24 Parganas	Hasnabad	Amlani	Sundoria
		Murarisha	Gara Kupi
	Kholapota	Rajendrapur	Noldi
	Sandeshkhali	Bayarmari	Bayarmari
			Chuchra Bayarmari
	Minakha	Chaital	Majherpara	200	25
			Neruli
			Neruli Abad
			Nimichi
			Uttar Akratola
			Uttar Majherpara
			Fulbari
		Mohanpur	Paschimand Purbo Chandibari	400	50
			Harinhula
			Barabari
			Kalibari
			Dakkhin Kalibari
			Tangramari
			Ramjoygheri
			Muchikhola
			Ramjaigheri
			Mallik gheri
		Aathpukur	Beltola
			Sukni Basa
			Harinhola
			Mohanpur
			Natun Para
			Uchildaha	200	50
		Chapali Abad	Fulbari	200	25
			Balaberia
			Uchhemari
			Chapali Abad

Community kitchens have been started in 17 villages where cooked meals have been provided (as of 1 July, 2021) to around 10,000 people, which includes people involved in river embankment repairing and their families. Meals are being cooked and served on different islands as well. 

Community kitchens have been started in 17 villages where cooked meals have been provided (as of 1 July, 2021) to around 10,000 people, which includes people involved in river embankment repairing and their families. Meals are being cooked and served on different islands as well. 

S. NO.	BLOCK	GP	VILLAGE	NO. OF PEOPLE FED (1st Day)	(2nd Day)	(3rd Day)
1	Kultali	Bhubaneshwari	Amtalar Kheya	200	200
2			Majher Kheya	200	200
3			Bhubaneshwari	200	200	200
4			Petkulchand	200	200
5			Haldar gheri	200	200
6			Bhasha	200	200
7			Uttar Devipur	200	200
8			Paschim Devipur	200	200
9		Deulbari Devipur	Shyam Nagar	200	200
10			Durgapur	200	200
11	Patharpratima	Achintanagar	Biratbajar Srigheri	200	200
12			Bishnupur	200	200
13		Brajaballabhpur	Brajaballabhpur	200	200
14	Mathurapur 2	Kankandighi	Daktar gheri	200	200
15			Shitalmaity	200	200
16			Dokkhin Kankandighi	250	250
17		Nagendrapur	Addi Baradanagar	200	200
18			Amtalar Kheya	200	200
19		Nandakumarpur	Chatua	200	200
20	Namkhana	Narayanpur	Narayanpur	200	200
21			Baidya gheri	100	200
22	Kultali	Moipeeth	Nagenabad	200	200
23			Baikanthapur	200	200
TOTAL				4550	4650	200

Our members, in various blocks of South 24 Parganas, have also coordinated and assisted individuals and other organisations like Udayani, Nabarun Sangha (a local club in Badu) and Sramajivi hospital in providing dry ration and food packets. 

S.No	Organisation Name/Partner Name	Particulars	No. of people/Quantity	Block
1	Nabarun Sangha (Badu)	Meal	750	Gosaba
2	Sramajivi hospital	Medikit	250	Namkhana
3	Arup Chatterjee (Kolkata)	Rice	7.5 quintal	Mathurapur 2
4	Father Jyoti (Dhyan Ashram)	Dry ration	400	Mathurapur 2
5	Father Shaju	Dry ration	950	Kultali
6	Udayani	Dry ration	185	Kultali

We had also made collections and distributed lungis, sarees, towels and other necessary items along with food packets in Kakdwip block.

Birla Cement Factory has provided 8,000 cement bags to PBKMS to use for embankment reconstruction. The bags will be utilized in Gosaba, Kulpi, Mathurapur 2, Kultali and Patharpratima for embankment reconstruction under the MGNREGA scheme.

We have sourced 2600 Kg Saline resistant paddy seeds for distribution in 5 blocks of South 24 Parganas (Mathurapur 1, Namkhana, Gosaba, Kultali, Patharpratima) and 5 blocks of North 24 Parganas (Hasnabad, Minakhan, Sandeshkhali 2, Basirhat 2, Nazet).

Bolpur Manav Zamin has provided us with 2000 kitchen garden seeds to be distributed to 2000 families in different blocks of North and South 24 Parganas who were trained by us to maintain organic kitchen gardens in their backyards, which were ruined by excessive rains, flood or the cyclone.

COVID-19 Surveillance in Dantan, Paschim Medinipur

In various rural areas of the state, it has been noted that lack of awareness and reluctance to submit to testing, treatment, and vaccination is making the rural population even more susceptible to COVID-19. Despite showing several symptoms, people are reluctant to visit the local health centres or get tested due to widespread misinformation and a general fear of the disease and the rising death rate.  Further, the rural healthcare system is grossly underprepared for this crisis

Against the backdrop of this situation, Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity initiated a program to assist the local healthcare system in the block with awareness and sensitization campaigns on the use of masks, physical distancing, handwashing, and vaccine hesitancy. This will also allow the local health facilities to monitor and guide the patients and their families regarding the spread of the disease and the precautions and medications necessary.

We started with our first training and surveillance work in Dantan, Paschim Medinipur. We found volunteers who along with the local authorities and their staff can make home visits to identify patients with Covid symptoms and persuade them to follow protocol at home. Total 10 teams of 4 members in each team have been made. 20 volunteers (2 members from each team) were given training in 3 extensive sessions, over 2 days about the precautions they should take, understanding and using thermal scanners, oximeters etc. PPE kit disposal, cleaning, donning and doffing. There was an introductory session about covid, covid norms and safety, the importance of vaccination and other safety measures, home isolation, etc. They have been given PPE kits, thermal scanners, oximeters and basic medicines to help any patient they come across.

As of 18 June 2021, our volunteers have visited more than 200 families in various villages of the block. They have identified a few people with covid-like symptoms and have successfully guided them about the necessary precautions, provided them with basic medicines, and suggested their next action course.

We believe that addressing myths and misconceptions around the disease, promoting preventive and COVID-appropriate behaviours and campaigns to dispel myths and fears around the COVID-19 vaccines is the need of the hour, particularly in the rural parts of the state.

We plan to make COVID surveillance a continuous activity in 2021-22, until the pandemic’s abatement.

Updates, as of 23rd June 2021

A total of 11 teams have been formed, i.e 44 volunteers. 40 volunteers (10 teams) have been working on the field since  11th June, 2021. 

Each team has made 2 visits, covering approximately 70 families in each visit. Around 140 families were visited by our volunteers, in 21 villages of the Dantan 1 block of Paschim Medinipur. With an average family size of 5, 7000 individuals have been covered, of which 35 patients were found to be Covid positive and were referred to the hospital. Few people were identified with covid-like symptoms and were successfully guided about the necessary precautions and course of action.

After the 1st visit, each team is also re-visiting around 6-15 identified households, with people with covid-like symptoms.

 

Landfall of Cyclone Yaas

We are getting updates about the cyclone Yaas and its impact from our members in various villages and anchals from South 24 and North 24. Heavy rains have led to an increase in the sea level, river dams and embankments have broken in various places. There has been a lot of damage to property as well as agriculture. Various villages are flooded. Many people have shifted to safe places and have been able to prepare for a further crisis - with water entering their villages tonight, due to high tide. People have gathered together, preparing meals and helping each other as much as possible. At the same time, there are also people who are yet to find any shelter.

South 24 Parganas:

In Mousuni, Narayanpur, Namkhana, Fraserganj, Shibrampur, Haripur, Buda Khali areas of Namkhana block, the sea water has reached to a dangerous level due to the effect of the cyclone; The river dams are overflowing and water has entered all the villages. Villagers who had kutcha houses are yet to find any shelter, some villagers have been given shelter in flood centers, villagers are very worried about their families and cattle. 

In Sumati Nagar, Muriganga 2, Gangasagar, Dhabalat Chitpur gram panchayat, of Sagar block,  river dams have broken and water is entering the village. 

In 3 places of Maipith GP of Kultali block, river dams have broken and water has entered the villages. The river dam overflowed and flooded two places. It is feared that water may enter some more places during the night at high tide. The people who have kutcha houses have been moved to places of safety, with necessary arrangements of food.

Water was entering in 2 places in the Bhubaneswari GP, but people could successfully construct makeshift dams to stop it. River dams near Majharkheya, Amtala kheyar have broken down. Villagers fear dams could break and water might enter in   several places. 

In Patharpratima and Achinthyanagar GP, river embankments have broken in two places (Hatishur and Virat Bazar). The conditions are alarming in these places, water might enter the villages at night, during high tide. 

The condition of Brajballavpur GP is very bad and there is a possibility of various river dams breaking in different places. The river embankment has broken and water has entered in Raydighi Bazar. 

The river embankment of Nandakumarpur GP has broken in two places. The Hajragheri river embankment of Raydighi Kumrapara GP has broken and water is flowing through the river embankment of Anwar Doctor, the fifth market of Nagendrapur GP. Drinking water tube wells have been submerged due to the inundation of Raydighi GP Bazar.

Besides, several places in Kankandighi, Nagendrapur and Kumrapara GPs are in critical condition. People are preparing meals in various flood centres, schools and houses. Arrangements for water, medicine and electricity have been made. 

River embankments in Nalgora No. 1 and Nalgora No. 3  in Nalgora GP of Joynagar 2 block have broken and water is entering the fields. Nalgora GP has broken dams in 8 places. There are still 2 hours left for high tide. It has been reported that Kumrapara Robekhaki and Shankar Gheri Chatua have been breached and water is entering the agriculture fields. 

North Kumrapara river embankment broke and many villages are submerged. The entire GP of Kumrapara is flooded. A dam has broken Priormor to Haldar Gheri. Villages have submerged.

Narendrapur, Chatua, Nandakumarpur GP, South 24 Parganas

Narendrapur, Chatua, Nandakumarpur GP, South 24 Parganas

Narendrapur, Chatua, Nandakumarpur GP, South 24 Parganas

North 24 Parganas:

Several villages in Mohanpur and Chapali anchal of Minakhan block have been flooded due to the breaking of river dams.

In Fulbari (Chapali anchal), Balaberia, Dhamakhali, Sandeshkhali people have moved to the flood relief centres and are being provided with food items (গুড় , চীড়া, মুড়ি, বিসকুট)  for the time being.

 In Malancho, Chaital GP (Minakhan block), Bhawanipur, Amlani anchal (Hasnabad block)- river embankments have broken, water has entered the villages. The local leaders are providing rice and dal. Some people have taken shelter in the local schools.

'May Day' Observance

Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity (PBKMS) and Shramajivee Mahila Samity (SMS) observe May Day across 12 districts in West Bengal

'May Day' has always been a special occasion for unarguably the largest independent trade union of marginal farmers, agricultural workers and plantation workers in India. The struggle which began in 1988 with the enforcement of an eight hour work day for agricultural workers in the district of South 24 Parganas continues even today in upholding the constitutional rights of the unorganized sector workers within the farm and non farm sectors of the economy. PBKMS has been at the forefront whether in advocating for implementation of the provisions of MGNREGA, 2005 in its true spirits or for mobilizing plantation workers to struggle for the realization of their pending wages from unscrupulous tea garden owners. The systemic apathy of the state amidst a raging pandemic and rising inequality in the society points towards the relevance of May Day in the present times. The day gives us renewed hope and instills belief in the power of collective strength of the working class to march forward in our demand for an equal world order watering the dreams of a 'classless society'.

With strict adherence to social distancing norms and state government guidelines on gatherings, we have observed the sacred day across our field areas. Calls of 'Workers of the world unite' have reverberated through the morning air challenging the hegemonic grip of the bourgeois class over community resources.    

Senior leadership in Badu Collective, Madhyamgram preparing to hoist our union flag 

SMS leaders posing before indigenous paddy collecting systems in Konkondighi Gram Panchayat, Raidighi block, South 24 Parganas

Youth leaders unfurling the union flag in Uttar Dinajpur 

SMS activists raise their fists during sloganeering in Chapra, Nadia

Members observing a minute of silence in Siborampur, Namkhana, South 24 Parganas

Block leadership commemorating the day in Mathurapur, South 24 Parganas  

Puncha block in Purulia marks the day with a reduced attendance owing to a spike in covid-19 cases in the district

Activists of Belma block in Purulia raise slogans with the red flag of PBKMS flying high    

The following charter of demands has been sent to the political leadership on behalf of our union to ensure the access to necessary means of survival for vulnerable sections during the pandemic and the policy measures required to address the concerns of the working class:

• Facilitating all economic activities in West Bengal with restrictions only in movement and access to certain enclosed public spaces like stadiums, shopping complexes, restaurants, etc.

• Immediate formulation of a policy to facilitate the safe return of migrant workers stranded in states where partial or complete lockdown have been announced.

• Provision of at least 200 days of guaranteed wage employment to each and every willing adult individual in rural areas under MGNREGA, 2005. Immediate roll out of a similar programme in urban areas.

• Universalization of the Public Distribution System while ensuring a minimum quantity of 14 kilograms of food grains, 1.5 kilograms of pulses and 800 ml of edible vegetable oil per month for each and every individual.

• Disbursal of a monthly sum of ₹7000 to vulnerable families, at least for six months.

• Immediate rollback of the four labour codes and the three central farm laws which have the potential to disproportionately affect the interests of the unorganized sector workers and their families