Dalit Sthree Sakthi (DSS) distributed relief packets to the flood victims of Vijayawada on 6th and 7th October 2024. DSS women collective members and dalit women in 17 slums were selected and each one was given packets containing 10 items like rice, oil, dal, saree, men's clothes, blanket, towel and daily household items. About 650 packets were distributed in and around Vijayawada.
The floods, triggered by the Budameru Canal and Krishna River, have surged to unprecedented levels. It has submerged the surrounding areas, displacing thousands of residents. This flood situation in Vijayawada in NTR district, Andhra Pradesh is one of the worst natural calamities to hit the city in the last three decades. While several districts, including neighbouring Palnadu and Guntur were also affected by floods, Vijayawada in NTR District was the worst hit.
In response to this floods that severely impacted the region of Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, Dalit Sthree Sakthi (DSS) organized a relief distribution initiative aimed at supporting the affected marginalised communities in several areas of Vijayawada. This effort focused particularly on Dalit women and families residing in slums, who were the worst affected now and often most vulnerable during such crises.
On 6th and 7th of October, 2024, DSS mobilized its women collective members to distribute relief packets in and around 17 slums in Vijayawada. Each relief packet was carefully curated to meet the immediate needs of the flood victims and included essential items to aid their recovery and provide comfort during this challenging time. Since the number of victims are more and the available relief is less, DSS had to carefully select the beneficiaries and assemble them at a nearby place and
distribute the relief packets to them. Lot of exercise had gone into selecting the items, testing the quality and comparing the price with several whole sale vendors. After lot of exercise DSS could purchase high quality items and every beneficiary openly expressed the view with our coordinators that the quality of items was very good compared to the quality of relief items distributed by government and others.
Contents of the Relief Packets
Each kit contained ten vital items:
1. Rice: 5 kilograms of Rice bag.
2. Dal: 1 kilogram of Dal packet
3. Oil: 1 Litre of Oil Packet
4. Bath Soap: 2 Bath Soaps
5. Wash Soap: 2 cloth washing soaps
6. Surf Packet: 1 kilogram of Surf packet
7. Saree: 1 Saree for Women
8. Blanket: 1 Blanket
9. Towel: 1 Towel
10. Lungi: 1 Lungi for men
In total, approximately 650 relief packets were distributed, significantly impacting the lives of those affected by the floods. The relief arranged by the government had not reached everyone at the grass-root level. As lakhs of families were affected, everyone rushed for the relief which was arranged by the government and most of the families couldn’t receive the relief. Only the able and strong families had taken the relief more than twice. But, Dalit Sthree Sakthi distributed the relief to Dalit Women who are at the grass-root level. Many of them confessed with tears in their eyes that this was their first time that they were taking a relief kit after they were hit by the floods. The initiative not only provided immediate relief but also fostered a sense of solidarity and support among the Dalit women and dalit communities. The involvement of DSS women collective members in the distribution process empowered these women, reinforcing their roles as leaders and change makers within their communities.
The relief kits were distributed to select individual dalit women to make sure that everyone receives the support rather than single person receiving the relief more than once and some not at all receiving the relief. After taking the relief also, the families confessed that this relief kit was the best kit that they ever received with all the items meeting their needs and with the best quality and quantity.
The relief distribution organized by Dalit Sthree Sakthi stands as a testament to the power of community solidarity in times of crisis. By prioritizing the needs of the most vulnerable, DSS has made a meaningful contribution to the recovery efforts in Vijayawada. As the affected families begin to rebuild their lives, the support provided through these relief packets will undoubtedly play a crucial role in their journey toward recovery.
DSS remains committed to continuing its efforts in supporting flood victims and addressing the long-term needs of these communities. Further initiatives will be planned to ensure that they receive the necessary aid and resources for sustainable recovery.
Areas from where beneficiaries were selected:
1. Pezzone pet
2. Old Raja Rajeswari pet
3. New Raja Rajeswari pet
4. Ibrahimpatnam
5. Rajeev Nagar
6. Prakash Nagar
7. Ranigari Thota
8. Machavaram
9. Kristurajupuram
10. Jakkampudi
11. Sundaraiah Nagar
12. Krishna Lanka
13. Santhi Nagar
14. Vambay Colony
15. Basava Taraka Nagar
16. Bhavani Puram
17. Singh Nagar
Ms. Divya, District Coordinator, Ms. Sridevi, Ms. Roja, Women Collective Leaders played important role in gathering the beneficiaries at one place, registering their details, while a few volunteers did the hard work of unloading the packets, placing them at the convenient spot and distributing them to the beneficiaries.
Our co-ordinators and women collective leaders who stay at the places where the beneficiaries reside are getting reports from the beneficiaries that the quality of rice, dal and every other item is of high standard.
Comments