The reconstruction of lives and homes is now well underway.  For some, the process has begun of slowly collecting again the discarded materials from which their shanties could be reconstructed: bricks, iron sheeting, cloths, wood pieces, and anything that can be found.  Those who have little are amazingly innovative in constructing shelter from the sun, wind and rain.  For others, this has not been as easy.  The land that was their home has been washed away.  The entire structure has collapsed and/or has been swept away.  In still other cases, the land under the building has dissolved, leaving the building on unstable foundations.

The planning to assist with these reconstructions is now underway.  Those most in need are being identified and materials being budgeted.  Due to the large number affected, support will be provided on an as-needed basis, taking into account those most severely damaged as well as the financial ability of the families to reconstruct.   For example, in Samne Ghat, one of the worst hit areas, the homes of many families whose only income comes from begging were completely washed away, leaving them homeless.   

The monsoon rains have now cleared, and the sun is blazing fiercely throughout each day.  As a result, the remaining water and mud is drying fast, and life is slowly returning to ‘normal’ in most communities.   A huge cleanup is underway throughout the city to remove the debris left by the floodwaters, and to allow the residents to return to their normal lives.

Based on the needs in the communities we are serving, this will be the final week for the food distributions.  There will still be a few medical camps next week.  The next phase of rebuilding housing and damaged facilities will then commence.  These people will be supported by the ongoing services offered in partnership between Sai Maa Vishnu Shakti Trust and ASMITA.

Even though life is returning to normal, the medical camps continue to be well attended.  Many of these people would not otherwise seek treatment for the skin diseases, gastrointestinal symptoms and fevers being presented.  The camps are held in the communal grounds of each community – often under the shelter of a shade giving tree, or sometimes just beside the dilapidated walls of the community housing.  Each camp has one or two doctors, a nurse in attendance and the medicines and supplies that the Sai Maa community has donated.

Where : Shivpur, Varanasi
People Fed : 342


Observations : Located in the countryside outside Varanasi, Shivpur is a place of tranquility and simplicity. Children warmly greet us but are shy for conversation. In being with them, it seems for many this could be their first time meeting a Westerner.

The feeding has become a village-wide affair, with local mothers working with us to make all the preparations for the feast. Children, too, are eager to help by carrying pots, cleaning when needed, and helping prepare the puris or bread dish.

Being with these children is such a gift as they are in joy simply eating. Many sit patiently, taking multiple servings alongside their friends. After the meal, they gather together with big smiles and come running to us asking for pictures.  They take group photo after group photo, enjoying the seconds afterwards when they all huddle around to look at their picture on the screen. Their happiness is infectious, and we all leave with peace and joy.

Click "Read More" to see a slideshow of the feeding.

Sai Maa Vishnu Shakti Trust and ASMITA continue to assist the poor in the areas affected by the floods by providing supplies to assist these people to reestablish their lives. Each day for the past 2 weeks Sai Maa Vishnu Shakti Trust and ASMITA volunteers have offered medical aid, packed food supplies, and distributed them to families.   On some days we drive to a central location in the communities being served to distribute the supplies.   When the communities are closer, the families come to ASMITA and distributions are done at the same time as the packing.

Mostly it is the women or children who arrive to collect the supplies or attend the medical camps. The men are now out looking for work during the day.   Many are day laborers and their work opportunities have dissolved in the aftermath of the floods, adding to their family’s struggle.   Varanasi is famous for its silk weaving and cloths, but many of the looms were destroyed by the floodwaters, and must be repaired before work is again available.   Inundated farmlands mean farming jobs are not available till the farms recover.  Other employers can no longer afford to take on staff as they focus on rebuilding their business.

The prior days have taken us to three different parts of town.  We find each neighborhood is in a unique position in terms of their recovery.   On Thursday, we distribute food at Konia, and here the thick mud is making access for residents treacherous.  On Friday, we return to Nagwa at the confluence of the Assi and Ganges rivers, where mud is secondary to the destruction of almost all the shelters along the riverbank.  And today at Samne Ghat, we still walk through knee high water to meet community representatives, who then carry the sacks of meals balanced on their heads as they wade in chest high water back to their still isolated community.  In these past 3 days, we have still distributed over 700 hot meals to families in need.

But there is no clear cut-off point for this decision.  Today’s distribution at Samne Ghat highlighted that it will still be some time before the floodwaters fully recede and all the streets are navigable again.

The past three days have seen us making hot meal distributions in three different parts of town and we find each neighborhood is in a unique position in terms of their recovery.   On Thursday we distribute food at Konia, and here the thick mud is making access for residents treacherous.   On Friday, we return to Nagwa at the confluence of the Assi and Ganges rivers, where mud is secondary to the destruction of almost all the shelters along the riverbank.  And today at Samne Ghat, we still walk through knee high water to meet community representatives who then carry the sacks of hot meals balanced on their heads as they wade in chest high water back to their still isolated community.  In these past 3 days we have still distributed over 700 hot meals to families in need.

We have a 6.1 mile drive from Asmita, where the hot meals have been prepared, to our destination, Konia.  The drive is long, travelling through industrial areas, railway slum communities, and then into a maze of tiny streets.  Eventually, we come to the end of a road and find ourselves surrounded by an inquisitive crowd of teenagers, women and children.  They surround us asking our names, shaking our hands, full of friendliness.  There is a continuous stream of people pouring through the small gate in the metal door to greet at us.

This is the first shelter that we are offering food to.  It is a school building that is clean, but sparse.  It consists of one large room with a bare concrete floor, and the room is dry, elevated and well ventilated.  Woven sacks cover the floor where the families sit and sleep while seeking refuge here.  The few possessions each have brought with them are stacked behind their sacks.

We drive towards the first distribution location, Alka Mishra, and cross a bridge.  One of the poorest communities we have visited is under this bridge.  It is just 2 days since we delivered meals before, but it is now a much different picture.  The waters of the Assi River have subsided many feet and the village is now standing above the water’s edge.  However, we notice it is uninhabited.  The villagers have not returned.  The thick mud left by the receding floodwaters has made the houses inaccessible, so the villagers still remain on the land that has been their home for the past week.

The rickshaw driver bringing us to Alka Mishra stops at the entrance and points at the water still flowing through the alley.  He is unwilling to take us further so we stop and set up our distribution site here.  The children, who seem to appear from nowhere, receive their meals, and are sent back to their communities.  These children are our messengers, letting the communities know where we are located.   Gradually mothers, children and older boys begin to arrive, most wading through the waters that we had not been able to pass through.  Each receives enough food packets for their families.  Some bring dirty plastic bags, some wrap the meals in their dupattas, some carry them in their hands taking the hot meals back to their families.

More news from Varanasi about the flood crisis. Click the Read More below to see more articles.

The new week also heralds a change to the menu for those affected by the floods.   Asmita volunteers are now cooking enormous pots of kitchari with vegetables: rice and dahl with vegetables and spices.  The dahl in these meals adds protein, which is a vital component to their nutrition as the duration of the assistance extends.

The drive to Nakhki Ghat is long.   We have to turn back and find an alternate route on occasion as the access roads are still covered in knee-deep water, too deep for our auto-rickshaw and motorcycle to safely negotiate.  Smiles and waves greet us as we travel through unfamiliar neighborhoods, repeatedly stopping to ask for directions, the flood relief banner on the back of the rickshaw telling people of our mission.   Although the water has receded in the narrow streets we are travelling, the watermarks are clear on the buildings and everywhere the ground is covered in thick mud and trash.