After distributing relief material, a Guntur-based NGO has come forward to undertake permanent rehabilitation measures in five villages of Phailin-battered Ganjam district of Odisha.
“We are moved by the plight of fishermen, farm workers and others, who are hit hard by the devastation caused by the October 12 severe cyclonic storm and the subsequent torrential rains. After contacting the district officials, we have given a proposal to the Odisha Government our willingness to adopt five villages,” Operational Director of ASSIST J. Ranga Rao, told The Hindu on Monday.
ASSIST, a society for integrated rural development, has its activity in Guntur, Prakasam, Krishna and Ranga Reddy districts. “ASSIST is doing these measures (relief and rehabilitation) with the support of ITsAP (Association of IT Enterprises in Andhra Pradesh) and United Way Hyderabad,” he said.
Mr. Ranga Rao along with its coordinators T. Rama Rao, M.V. Rama Rao and P. Ravi Babu toured various areas in Ganjam district from October 25 to November 1 to study, understand and assess the affected area and to identify needy villages for extending relief assistance primarily and the required rehabilitation interventions eventually.
In view of extending long-term interventions, at the first instance, ASSIST tried to identify a local voluntary organisation, which can be useful for the execution of activities. Accordingly, ASSIST joined hands with Sahanubhuti.
Mr. Ranga Rao said they distributed relief material comprising 10 kg. rice, two kg. dal, 500 gm oil, two kg. potato to 513 families in Narayanpur, Horiyapalli and Manguvaipet villages in Chatrapur and Reddy Jagannadhapur and Malli Jagannadhapur in Ganjam blocks. Rehabilitation measures will be taken up in these villages in the next phase. He said the support from the district administration after registering their NGO was very encouraging.
