In a video that has gone viral on social media, Thiruvananthapuram District Collector K. Vasuki is heard asking volunteers at a collection centre, “Do you understand what you are doing?” She then answers her question, “You are making history. You are showing to the world what Malayalis here can do.” The response is loud applause and whistles.
Relief collection in the city has been driven for the past many days by hundreds of unnamed volunteers, and Dr. Vasuki has been the face of the initiative. The Hindu spoke to her about volunteerism, overwhelming response of the people to call for aid, and challenges ahead.
Your thoughts on how volunteerism aided in relief collection:
Nearly 3,000 volunteers are helping with the collection drive. They are the real heroes. Only 5% of it is owing to the efforts of my team of Civil Services officers and other officials. The rest has been owing to the volunteers. Only because of them have we been able to transport materials wherever required.
What is unprecedented is the quantum of the response. It is the spirit of humanity that we are seeing.
How much relief has been sent from Thiruvananthapuram?
The district administration has sent nearly 200 loads of material. Apart from that, the city Corporation, police and other departments, and voluntary organisations have also sent relief material. In all, over 450 loads have been sent from Thiruvananthapuram alone.
Tell us how the relief collection came about...
Relief collection started when our district was affected by rain and waterlogging. We felt the need to prepare for the worse-case scenario and started a collection drive immediately.
But we were spared the worst, and things were soon under control. In other places, though, the situation took a turn for the worse.
Air Force officers then told us about airdropping relief material in the affected areas. I made a public appeal on social media, and the response from the people was overwhelming. Though we were not ready, it forced us to act.
How volunteers lined up atcollection centres...
The district administration had launched a programme in April called ‘Change can Change Climate Change.’ When we started relief collection, we told volunteers of the programme and interns who were part of the District Collector’s internship programme that we wanted volunteers.
We also tapped those who had registered on keralarescue.in. After that, volunteers kept coming. We knew this energy of youth was there. Seeing it on the ground was heartwarming.
How is the district administration ensuring that relief is reaching the needy?
We are in touch with officers on special duty in the districts, and sending relief material as per requirement.
A software too has been developed for management of logistics. Factors such as how much relief stock is available and how much is going to camps are assessed. There is complete accountability.
Things are getting streamlined, and will improve in the next day or two.
How do you see the relief process evolving over the next few days?
We are assessing requirements everyday. Immediate support is needed as camps are still open. We need foodgrain, clothes, cleaning agents, vegetables such as onion and potatoes that do not perish quickly, and cooking utensils. We also need a lot of vehicles.
Then, there is the huge reconstruction ahead. Needs may change, but this momentum should not die. We need to keep providing support at least for the next three months, and longer if needed.
The government alone cannot do it. Civil participation is crucial.
If workplaces and educational institutions allow their staff and students to volunteer at least one day a week without compromising on attendance at least for the next three months, a lot can be done.
On climate change
Climate change is the biggest challenge we are facing. This has been one of the worst disasters in the history of Kerala. We need to wake up to the fact that there may be more such challenges. Change is the only option. We need to adopt sustainable lifestyle practices, and try to reverse the effects of climate change.
