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Orissa Flood
Relief: Housing Project
During third week of September, 2008, depression in
the Bay of Bengal led to heavy rains & floods in coastal region of the
state of Orissa in India. The embankments along the rivers Mahanadi,
Brahmani and Baitarani were breached in many places thereby flooding
more than 6,000 villages in 18 districts of the state leaving about 40
lakh (or 4 million) people homeless. The districts of Kendrapara, Puri,
Jagatsinghpur and Cuttack were the worst affected. Relief work was slow
and inadequate due to the continuous inclement weather and insufficient
infrastructure. Many roads, bridges and railway tracks were either
completely washed away or had become unusable. Having robbed thousands
of their houses, properties, livestock, and livelihoods, nature's fury
left behind a trail of devastation and despondency of unseen magnitude
in recent times in the country.
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Rivers breached the embankments and
submerged
thousands of villages |
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Millions of people lost their
homes and livelihood |
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Damaged roads and railway tracks
delayed relief work |
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Sri V.Srinivasan announcing Bhagawan's
resolve to help the flood-affected people |
Meanwhile with Bhagawan's blessings, the members of
Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations in Orissa and its neighbouring states
rushed to their brethren in distress with food, clothing, medicines, and
other relief materials. But Bhagawan was not content with this. It was
on 7th October, the sacred day of Ayudha Pooja during the Dasara
festival at Prasanthi Nilayam that everyone came to know of Bhagawan's
Sankalpa (resolve). Sri V.Srinivasan, the All India President of Sri
Sathya Sai Seva Organisations in his speech stated that Bhagawan was
moved by the suffering of thousands of people who had been rendered
homeless due to the recent floods in the state of Orissa and that He had
decided to construct new concrete houses for them. The entire Sai
Kulwant Hall was reverberating with applause for a long time at this
spontaneous act of compassion of Divine Mother Sai for Her children in
distress. Sri Srinivasan further mentioned that surveys were being
conducted and plans were being drawn up at a rapid pace so that the
houses would be ready at the earliest and, of course, Bhagawan was
looking in to every minute detail to ensure that the people would feel
happy and comfortable in their new homes. For instance, in places which
are prone to frequent flooding, the houses are being constructed at safe
height from the ground level. Also, agriculture being the predominant
occupation of the villagers, space is being provided all around the
house to shelter cattle and also to store the harvest.
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Villagers welcoming members of
Sri Sathya Sai
Seva Organisations |
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Villagers welcoming members of
Sri Sathya Sai
Seva Organisations |
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Plans and execution schedule on
display at
the work site |
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Seeing the plan markings
on the ground |
A team comprising of representatives of Sri Sathya
Sai Central Trust and Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation, Orissa conducted
detailed surveys in various places. Beholding the messengers of hope,
the flood-affected inhabitants of the villages welcomed them with great
respect and expressed joy and gratitude that God had responded to their
prayers for succour. Having conducted surveys and finalized the plans,
the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, with the approval and cooperation of
Government of Orissa commenced the Housing project with Bhoomi Pooja
(ground breaking ceremony) on 30th November, 2008. As a part of Bhoomi
Pooja, Nagarsankeertan (collective singing of Lord's name while going
around the village), Narayana Seva (distribution of food, clothes,
blankets, etc.) was also conducted. Members of Sri Sathya Sai Seva
Organisation of Orissa have been providing able assistance in many ways
due to their knowledge of local people and terrain.
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Bhoomi Pooja at Khandahota,
Cuttack District |
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Bhoomi Pooja at Billipada,
Puri District |
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Sai Youth doing Nagarsankeertan at
work site
in Manibad, Cuttack District |
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Food preparations underway
for Narayana Seva |
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Sri V.Srinivasan being welcomed
for the Bhoomi Pooja |
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Sri V.Srinivasan addressing
a meeting
at the site |
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| Blankets being distributed |
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Happy faces all around! |
Work is progressing in a planned and phased manner
simultaneously in many villages in the districts of Kendrapara, Puri,
Jagatsinghpur and Cuttack. Yet another saga of love is being unfolded?
this time in a different setting and to a different section of people,
but doubtlessly it is the same Divine Love of Bhagawan reaching out to
His children.
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| Pile boring in progress |
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Open foundation of a house |
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| Foundation laying in progress |
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Foundation made of flyash bricks |
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| Foundation made of flyash bricks |
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Brick walls have already risen up
at Nadiabari site! |
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| Roofing works in progress |
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Roofing works in progress |
Source:
http://www.srisathyasai.org.in/Pages/Service_Projects/orissa.htm
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