Now, its time to rebuild - with a vengeance!

Kerala is not really new to the wet embrace that it confronts each rainy season and that too, often, twice a year but then it has never ever been such as it happened this time. Between 9th and the 15th of august Kerala received 255 percent more rain than it normally does. The result - 44 rivers in spate, 87 major landslides (not to count the smaller ones and the ones not reported at all), water from 33 dams released - catastrophe! Over 46000 hectares of crop lost, 2.25 lakh people rescued. Over ten lakh people moved to over 3200 relief camps. 360 dead and still counting. Rs.25000 crore is the estimated loss to the state.

Now comes the rebuilding. That is the challenge ahead. Let us sincerely hope that the rehabilitation and rebuilding of the state will boost the economy of the state. The lessons we have learnt neglecting the all powerful nature must be respected and followed through to it's logical conclusion. Probably, it is time for Kerala to have a sincere relook into the land use pattern. There may be memories we wish to forget but not the lessons we have learnt or else the nature, believe me, will not let us alone, yet again.

The task of cleaning up massive quantities of slush and solid waste, the dead animals and birds that flow up in the rivers (and those stuck up on land), the epidemics it could cause seems to have passed by the efforts of locals and the local self-government institutions. Drinking water, chlorine tablets and bleaching powder is being distributed amply in worst affected areas. Even post-trauma centers, offering pycho-social support systems, have been set up in villages as post disaster affects the affected people in various stages.

Coming to our rather small effort; we have been able to collect about Rs.4 lakhs from humble contributions from all those whom we could ask from and many who gave us without asking too. The difficult process of identifying the needy is on with our members trying to find from their families back home in Kerala as to who are the ones who have not yet been serviced by government agencies and NGOs. Once we receive the applications from those who require help, we shall be deciding how best we can help them all with the 'meager' amount that we have at out disposal.

We shall keep our promise to updated the donors on our activity and we once again assure you that each penny will reach the real needy! May almighty give us the strength to do as best as we can to attain our objective most judiciously. Remember us, and our activity, in your prayers to the one high above.