After an initial lull in relief material collection, fuelled by online fake propaganda against contributing to government’s distress relief and funding mechanisms, collection at the city Corporation’s centres picked up by Saturday afternoon.
A truck carrying the first load of relief materials was scheduled to leave for flood-hit Wayanad from the civic body’s main office at night. The Corporation has now opened two collection centres, one at the main office and another at the Government Women’s College in Vazhuthacaud.
The centre at the main office began functioning from Friday, while the second one was opened on Saturday. Mayor V.K. Prasanth acknowledged that the fake propaganda seems to be affecting at least some people.
“There has been a campaign that the relief materials collected through official machineries are not reaching the target, which is far from the truth. Last year, 80 truck loads were sent to flood-hit districts. The only stuff that were unused are the old clothes and unusable items that came through flight and train. Each of our trucks are accompanied by an official of the health wing, who then hands over the material to the respective District Collectors. The distribution of materials is monitored till the end point,” said the Mayor.
First truck
The first truck to Wayanad is carrying large quantities of drinking water, as severe shortage of the same has been reported.
The Corporation has also launched a volunteer sign-up campaign, which has received enthusiastic response from youngsters. The green army volunteers, numbering to around 1,000, are part of the material collection counters. The civic body has also planned to launch a door-to-door campaign to collect relief materials. A medical team is also being set up in the flood-hit areas.
The materials required are drinking water, rice, dry fruits, biscuit, salt, tea, sugar, rusk, baby food, coconut, medicines, bedsheet, towels, lungi, nighty, t-shirt, children’s clothes, undergarments, torch, candles, lighter and sanitary napkins. Items like bread and bun which become unusable in a few days should be avoided.
The Manaveeyam Theruvidam Cultural Collective, with the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, has also opened a collection centre at Manaveeyam Veethi. Another one has been opened at the Bharat Bhavan by the State Youth Welfare Board. The St.Mary’s Higher Seconary School, Pattom, has also opened a counter.
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