So far, the Bihar government has been slow to respond to the flood victims' need for food, shelter, medicines and clothing. Now citizens are stepping in to fill the gap.
Banners were one of the enduring images of the Tsunami disaster. They announced the presence of international and national NGOs.
In Bihar, both government and NGO presence in relief efforts is missing.
The banners in Bihar belong to citizens' groups, often backed by politicians or businessmen.
Cynics say that the banners are an attempt at self projection and at garnering support for the coming election. But the truth is that without these initiatives by citizens, there would be no food kitchens or makeshift relief camps.
For instance, Saharsa town, where nearly two lakh flood victims have poured in. The district administration is yet to get its act together.
At this camp run by a student leader in Saharsa college, students have willingly given up their own beds.
"We have to give them food, shelter and security till the water receded. We ask them to sleep on our beds while we use the floor to sleep and study," said Ramanan Kumar Mahato, a student.
There are also some people who are working without banners. At Manekchand Chakla village in Supaul district, the villagers take care of 250 people who were turned away by the official camp nearby. The organisers range from farmers, pujaris, to the pan shop owner.
"We just collected some money and grain from the village," said a victim.
"These children start getting desperately hungry around 6 pm or 7 pm. Adults can tolerate hunger. So we arranged for wheat. And we are making puri sabzi. We will feed them as long as it is possible for us," said an organiser.
The worry is that both money and food grain are running out. The Supaul administration's support could keep these efforts going.
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Banners were one of the enduring images of the Tsunami disaster. They announced the presence of international and national NGOs.
In Bihar, both government and NGO presence in relief efforts is missing.
The banners in Bihar belong to citizens' groups, often backed by politicians or businessmen.
Cynics say that the banners are an attempt at self projection and at garnering support for the coming election. But the truth is that without these initiatives by citizens, there would be no food kitchens or makeshift relief camps.
For instance, Saharsa town, where nearly two lakh flood victims have poured in. The district administration is yet to get its act together.
At this camp run by a student leader in Saharsa college, students have willingly given up their own beds.
"We have to give them food, shelter and security till the water receded. We ask them to sleep on our beds while we use the floor to sleep and study," said Ramanan Kumar Mahato, a student.
There are also some people who are working without banners. At Manekchand Chakla village in Supaul district, the villagers take care of 250 people who were turned away by the official camp nearby. The organisers range from farmers, pujaris, to the pan shop owner.
"We just collected some money and grain from the village," said a victim.
"These children start getting desperately hungry around 6 pm or 7 pm. Adults can tolerate hunger. So we arranged for wheat. And we are making puri sabzi. We will feed them as long as it is possible for us," said an organiser.
The worry is that both money and food grain are running out. The Supaul administration's support could keep these efforts going.
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