Led by the Koshi Nav Nirman Manch (KNNM), people displaced by the the Koshi embankment area of Bihar have been on an indefinite dharna at the Supaul district headquarters since January 10, 2019, seeking government assistance, as they have had to leave their place of residence following the disaster that has struck them because of frequent floods leading to soil erosion.
"They have not being given compensation in accordance with fixed standards and standard operating procedure (SOP)", says a representation by the National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM), which supports KNNM, to the Bihar chief minister. Signed by tens of social activists led by Medha Patkar, it adds, "Women, elderly, hundreds of people along with small children are on dharna braving cold weather, but there is no response from the state administration."
NAPM says, "Before they were forced to sit on dharna, the district administration was communicated about their plight, and on August 30, a protest meeting was held, after which district office bearers promised to fulfill all their demands, but it this has remained a mere assurance. On December 21 they met Principal Secretary, Disaster Relief Department, and on January 7 they declared their intention to start dharna."
"Koshi river embankments have got eroded and severely damaged, as floods strike the region 3-4 times in a year, leading to widespread damage to the area. Hundreds of people, especially from villages in Maruna block, Khokhanaha Ward and Mussari have been affected by the floods and the resultant erosion, forcing them to take shelter at high places", the NAPM letter says.
KNNM demands include a survey of the houses damaged due to floods, crop damage, providing compensation to the disaster affected people in accordance with SOP set by the government, providing people ration for the whole year to those who are deprived of food security, loans waiver to farmers, MNREGA work, and their resettlement and rehabilitation.
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