By Deepak Kumar | Chairperson People First
May I send my very best wishes and thanks to the generous supporters of this important project, along with warm best compliments of the season to you and your familes.
I am pleased to bring you this latest progress report.
Changing the condtion and lives of the poor for the better in the long term takes care planning and resolve but primarily must of course involve those affected every step of the way. This has always been the People First approach because as a small grassroots NGO with years of experience we know the areas in which we can be effective, and can directly help people and thier communities in a way that larger organisations or governments sometimes find difficult.
It is not our intention to crticise others, in many ways government is doing what it can, there is no doubt improvements have been made, but we include the following press report without further comment from the Times of India from July this year,
New Delhi, July 23: In another blow to the Bihar administration, the latest Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report released on Friday has found major irregularities in delivering food grains of over 3,000 quintals, meant for the flood-affected in the state.
The report stated that while on paper it was shown that these food grains were transported for the flood-affected, the audit report reveals that majority of such trucks (through which the foodgrains were transported) did not exist.
The registration numbers mentioned by the district officials in the records books were those of motorcycles and jeeps. The report “apprehends that the government claim of transporting the grain to the flood-affected areas never happened, since the registration numbers of the trucks in the record books appeared to be fake.”
The report suspects that “3115.65 quintal food grains for the flood victims have been misappropriated.”
The report stated that during February 2009, foodgrains for the flood victims were picked up from Mansi railway station.
The government record showed that the foodgrains were lifted by trucks and kept at the godowns at Khagaria, from where they were later distributed to the flood-affected areas.
However, “when checked it was found that majority of the trucks with the registration numbers mentioned in the record books did not exist and others belonged to motorcycles, scooters, jeeps etc...”
The report stated: Following the enquiry, it was being apprehended that the government claim of despatching those foodgrains to the flood hit zones never happened. It is being suspected that 3111.65 quintals of foodgrains have been misappropriated.”
So what have we been doing to help?
The region is still overwhelmingly covered with sand carried by the flood waters,but sparse vegetation has started
We have been distributing through our partners, seeds, seedlings, animals and food stuffs, supporting micro credit and small scale income raising initiatives, helping people build more solid homes and supporting education initiatives.
Our next report will include the latest photographs of work in progress plus a slideshow will be uploaded onto our website.
Once again our heartfelt gratitude for your support,
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