KOSHI CHALLENGE

KOSHI CHALLENGE
For Bihar Flood (National Disaster) Relief & Rehabilitation a social venture of
Youth For Equality (YFE)
http://www.youthforequality.com
Email: info@youthforequality.com

Background Information

KOSHI CHALLENGE initiated by the Youth for Equality and Khushi Centre for Rehabilitation and Research (KCRR) for long term intervention in the Bihar Flood Relief & Rehabilitaion. The Project is coordinated with the Department of Social Work, University of Delhi, Khaadi Gramudyog Bihar and other collaborative partners under the banner of Koshi Challenge or Koshi Chunnauti. Work was the first of its kind and aimed to respond to the immediate needs of the flood victims. The Doctors from every corner of india, engineers, army personnel, students, teachers, faculty department of social work, and medical colleges, DRDO, engineering college including the non-teaching staff and paramedical staff of the Koshi Challenge or Koshi Chunauti are working in Madhepura, Supaul, Saharsa, Purnia since 1st weak of September 2008. We are working at two levels –
(a) One component of our team is working at Static Medical Centre or PHC in the name of Hamara Haspatal at two different places (1) Dafarka-Koshi Colony-Bhutahi Baandh (Triveniganj) in view of the massive devastation; (2) Jirwa-Pama Bandh or Nahar, centre of Jirwa & pama panchayat
(b) Mobile Medical Unit or Our Dynamic Clinic is our second component through which we try to reach out to the most affected areas like panchayat Kumarkhand, Dinapatti, Nirmali, Ratanpur, Raghavpar, Khagaria, Chatapur, Rampur, Jirwa, Sonbarsa etc.

At Dafarka-Kosi Colony-Bhutahi Baandh (Triveniganj), we are operating at the following levels –
Successful running of ‘Hamara Aspatal’, a PHC/mini Hospital at Dafarka-Kosi Colony-Bhutahi Baandh (Triveniganj) with support of Delhi University. This hospital caters to the wholesome medical needs of the affected populace and has successfully facilitated more than 25 pregnancies so far.

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  Running of ‘Hamari Paathshaala’ a space for meaningful engagement for the children of the most vulnerable community. Working in two shifts with volunteers from university of Delhi the school involves and enhances the creative potential of (a) non school going children and (b) with children who have had engaged with school.


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  ‘Hamara Sankalp’ is the programme of the and for the youth in the community. Again with the motto of meaningful engagement, hamara sankalp is the forum for the youths of the community to come together to discuss various issues and thereby experience collective learning. The group has lot of potential and ultimately provides all the necessary and logistical support in carrying out the day-to-day activities of our programme.


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  Adolescent girls have been successfully engaged in the form of discussions and small meetings on a variety of issues like adolescent health, domestic violence, personal hygiene, collective initiatives, as well as community health. ‘Hamara Milan’ is a platform to bring all the adolescent girls together and engage them meaningfully in this period of crisis. In addition to this, ‘Hamara Milan’ also involves pregnant women and lactating mothers to aware them in the issues of Reproductive and Child Health Care.


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  Apart from these four activities Koshi Challenge is aiming to reach out and meet the multiple needs of affected population through procurement and supply of tarpaulin sheets, torches, infant milk (Lactogen), skimmed milk, new clothes, bed sheets, utensils, slippers, towels, medicines etc. We have thought over it at the highest level and desire to be a modest facilitating agent in the transformation of life and livelihood in this part.
  
  
  AREAS OF CONCERN
  
  1. Need for Comprehensive Medical Services.
  There are areas which still needs medical intervention. There is lack of medical practitioners and medicine shortage which need to be addressed. Bihar in general have had a sad picture of health, this catastrophe has further aggravated the problem. The availability, accessibility and accountability concerns of health services need to be worked upon.
  2. Lack of Access to Clean Water.
  There is non accessibility and availability of clean and safe water for drinking and bathing purposes. As a result people are forced to use the contaminated water which has increased their vulnerability to water borne diseases. Several cases of Diarrhea, skin diseases and other water borne diseases have been identified.
  3. Problem of Displacement.
  The disaster resulted in massive displacement of people raising concerns for resettlement and rehabilitation.
  4. Issue of Livelihood is the only reason for migration.
  Unlike other rivers bringing fertile silt with them, the Kosi brings with it coarse sand and gravel from the upper reaches of the river system. The barren uncultivable land left by the flood has thus created livelihood concerns.
  5. Trafficking of Children and Child Abuse.
  Disaster increases the scope of Child trafficking. In flood prone lands of Bihar, just south of Nepal, the landless poor are desperate for work. The traffickers take advantage of this desperation. Parents of victims are poor, vulnerable, disposed and labouring... This increases child’s vulnerability to fall prey to the traps of vested interests which are usually well organized and are operated in nexus with the police authority and other influential people. As a result many children become victims of Child Abuse, Bonded Labour, Child Labour, Child Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation of children. The problem of poverty being the root cause of this problem needs to be attacked in order to address the issue as in floods there is no alternative for poor families than to send or sell their children as a labour or commodity in exchange of money. Besides this, awareness generation among people and generating sensitization towards the issue along with stringent implementation of existing legislations and governmental policies, mobilizing people to create pressure groups and working towards bringing structural changes can help address the issue.
  
  For more information Contact –
  
  Saket Mani, 09868780980, 09910646609 (Project-Coordinator)
  Dr. Kumar Harsh, 09868397966 (AIIMS)
  Dr. Kaushal Kant, 09868340420 (AIIMS)