Monitoring Disaster Response and Preparedness for Inclusion and Equity

National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights

8/1, 3rd Floor, South Patel Nagar

New Delhi-110008

Tel- 011 45668341, 45037897 Fax- 011 25852250

Website: www.ncdhr.org.in

www.nationaldalitwatch-ncdhr.blogspot.com

National Dalit Watch-NCDHR

Monitoring Disaster Response and Preparedness for Inclusion and Equity

Interventions since inception

October ’09-March ’12

http://www.ncdhr.org.in/

http://www.nationaldalitwatch-ncdhr.blogspot.com/

CONTENT

Words from the General Secretary

To the Reader

About NCDHR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Why National Dalit Watch? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

National Dalit Watch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

The Premise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Inclusion monitoring studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Glimpse into Discrimination in Disasters . . . . . . . . . . 8

Promising practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

- Preparing for the survey: a collective process

- Advocacy & Lobby

- Vulnerability Mapping and Inclusion Monitoring

Main Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Reports & Publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Dalit Watch in news-Links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

The Way Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Interventions October ‘09-March ‘12

NDW-National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights


Words from the General Secretary

Documented experiences of Super Cyclone in Orissa, Gujarat earthquake and Tsunami led to

the confirmation of the menace of caste based discrimination and exclusion being rooted in the

wider society and that it was at work even in the times of disasters. The assumption on which the

humanitarian agencies, federal and state authorities, and the general society operate, that

„disasters hit everyone equally‟ got shattered when we witnessed discrimination and exclusion of

Dalits in disaster relief and rehabilitation. The Dalits and marginalised sections are more

vulnerable to the effect of disasters for their already impoverished and outcast position in caste

and class divided society.

The need to evolve a tool or methodology became acute only after intervening in Bihar 2007

floods. The intervention in Bihar reconfirmed the experience of dalit exclusion during earlier

disasters. Resultantly, in 2007, a group of organisations came together and formed a network for

monitoring caste based discrimination during the 2007 and 2008 Kosi floods. And subsequently,

to monitor disasters and advocate for policy changes, National Dalit Watch (NDW) was

conceptualised and instituted in 2009.

Whatever the nature of disaster be, the tools have to be deployed to make sure that no

discrimination happens in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). Other marginalised social groups, the

minorities are also susceptible to this form of exclusion. All the studies so far commissioned

under the NDW have helped us to develop a Vulnerability Mapping and Inclusion Monitoring

tool (VM-IM) to enable the Dalit communities to claim their right to risk reduction/recovery and

rehabilitation from the concerned authority.

I am aware of the fact that it is still difficult for our society and people in this humanitarian sector

to openly accept and challenge this dehumanising practice of caste based discrimination in

humanitarian sphere and in general. However, proactive developments in this direction are being

made at the international level, through various network partners of NCDHR. Advocacy by

International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN) and Minority Rights Group International

(MRGI) at the UN levels have been phenomenal. It is the result of our collaborative efforts with

the key humanitarian players in India, such as Sphere India, Christian Aid, Dan Church Aid,

UNDP India and Cordaid that we to evolved the International Draft Guidelines for Addressing caste-

based discrimination in humanitarian aid, supported by IDSN and EU.

Through this report, we wish to share glimpses of the key work highlights from our DRR desk

from the time of its institution. I deeply acknowledge the work done by our extended self,

namely, Dalit Watch Bihar, Dalit Watch-Andhra Pradesh, Human Rights Forum for Dalit

Liberation-Karnataka, Rural Volunteers Centre in Assam and Action for Rural Upliftment and

Planning (ARUP) in Orissa. I also acknowledge the efforts and work of the national team in

New Delhi for their anchoring role of the entire unit.

I look forward to your feedback and suggestions to help us improve in our work

In solidarity,

N. Paul Divakar, General Secretary




The period from October 2009-March 2012 is marked with numerous fast paced activities in the states

and at the NDW secretariat. The studies commissioned during this time period have demystified the

neutral approach of the state and humanitarian agencies in disasters by laying bare the hidden forms

(though visible enough to sensitive eyes) of discrimination and caste prejudices in different phases of

disaster management.

The issue defines the harsh reality of Discrimination by Default animate in our society. This compendium

presents the unkindest facts of the covert inhuman practices spreading its wings during emergency

situations. The report showcases the collaborative work done by the state counterparts and National

Dalit Watch together, ever since they recognised and acknowledged the menace in Tsunami and Kosi

floods. Together we decided to act against it, resulting in several important relief and rehabilitation

monitoring studies in recent disasters in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Assam (2009) and Delhi (2010).

The Promising Practices section highlights the essential preparatory work done for commissioning all

monitoring studies, the considerations borne in mind to make it all „inclusive‟ and Dalit led/facilitated.

Then will come some of the major steps and initiatives taken under the aegis NCDHR, facilitated by

NDW in making the state accountable and answerable to the plight of Dalits in disasters. At the same

time, this section will take you through the endeavours made to bring various disaster management

agencies, both government and humanitarian aboard on the issue. All this combined with the efforts

made to mobilise the media, to perform its designated role of building consciousness through its wide

reach.

The Activities section describes the efforts made towards engaging and dialoguing with the authorities at

the regional, state and national levels. This section also lists out the NDW Publications. The section

Glimpse into Discrimination in Disasters encapsulates some of the heart rending testimonies of the Dalit

survivors of reported disasters of the faulty approach of disaster management agencies. These

testimonies speak volumes for violation of Dalits‟ right to a dignified life.

We hope, as you delve further into the report, it will become clear why NCDHR decided to have an

initiative dedicated to overseeing the issue of Dalits in disaster, and what measures have been taken so

far, in sensitising the state and humanitarian agencies on the issue. The work done so far is just the

beginning, and has strengthened the foundation of the NDW to fight for the dignified lives and

entitlements of Dalits by aiming at inclusive policies acknowledging their vulnerability in disasters, thus

taking measures to build their resilience and preparedness to disasters.

TO THE READER


National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR) is an effort to galvanize movements into a

representation body that can collectively organize, educate, agitate and demand for ending

discrimination once and for all in both government and civil societies. NCDHR is a forum launched in

1998, committed to the elimination of discrimination based on caste. A democratic secular platform led

by Dalit women and men activists, with support and solidarity from movements and organizations,

academics, individuals, people‟s organizations and institutions throughout the country who are

committed to work to protect and promote human rights of Dalits.

NCDHR had been anchored in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Orissa, Maharashtra, Uttar

Pradesh, Punjab, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala,

Assam, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry with the vision “To regain and establish the human dignity, rights and

security of Dalit Community”.

In its first phase, NCDHR undertook interventions for raising visibility of Dalit issues at various levels

and has managed to successfully raise the visibility of Dalit issues at the state, national and international

level. Some of the key achievements during this phase were:

- Massive Signature campaign with 25 lakh signatures submitted to the Prime Minister

- The UNWCAR Durban Conference of 2001

- Dalit Swadhikar Rally conceptualised during the Dalit Sector Consultation at Hyderabad, started

on 6 December 2003

- The Millennium Dalit Charter was released on 10th - 11th August 2005, at Jaipur, Rajasthan

In phase two, NCDHR‟s work was instrumental in bringing the kind of international attention and media

coverage, which has made many in India and around the world sit up and take notice of the injustice and

oppression faced by Dalits. To name just a few, NCHDR had been involved in events such as the World

Conference Against Racism in South Africa („01), all World Social Forums, the historic 40-day Dalit

Swadhikar Rally across India converging into World Social Forum in Mumbai („04), the first ever public

hearing on The Situation of the Dalits in India, at the European Parliament in Brussels (Dec ‟06), and the

first International Conference on the Human Rights of Dalit Women at the Hague (Nov ‟06). The

positive results of these efforts include the first-ever recognition of the Dalit Human Rights problem by

the United Nations (Aug 2001), the European Union (May „07), and the United States Congress (July

„07), important events which have increased international pressure on the Government of India to

address the serious Dalit issues it has up to now paid only lip-service to.

In phase three, NCDHR sought foremost to hold the State responsible for not checking the „impunity‟

being enjoyed by non-Dalits in the criminal justice administrative system. Specifically, we challenge the

State and its justice delivery mechanism, including the Human Rights institutions that are in place, to

actually implement and enforce its constitutional and legislative measures to safeguard, protect and

promote the basic human rights of Dalits. During this phase, the emphasis was on grass-roots

mobilization, linking and strengthening campaigns, alliance building, and systematic monitoring and

advocacy of atrocities against Dalits to pressure the Criminal Justice system to act.

ABOUT NCDHR


1


NCDHR learned of rampant caste discrimination during the Indian Ocean Tsunami in Tamil Nadu

(2004) and made visits to the affected regions, following which a comprehensive study was

conducted by *International Dalit Solidarity Network of Netherlands. Subsequent to the field visit a

National Public Hearing was jointly organized by together with Human Rights Forum for Dalit

Liberation (HRFDL) and Dalit Mannurimai Kootamaippu (DMK), on Discrimination against Dalits in

Tsunami Relief and Rehabilitation, at Nungampakkam, Chennai, in August 2005. More than 1000

Dalit victims from the whole of Tamil Nadu participated in the Public Hearing. NGOs and other

Dalit organizations working in the coasts of Tamil Nadu also took part extensively.

Eventually, NCDHR took up many advocacy interventions together with HRFDL viz. appealing to

the governmental and non governmental bodies, reporting the situation and submitting memoranda

to high officials, organizing meetings, workshops, seminars and demonstrations to ensure that the

Tsunami-affected Dalits had an equal opportunity to rebuild their lives and communities. The

National Public Hearing was one of the major social action programmes to ensure justice to

Tsunami hit Dalit survivors.

The inspiration and motivation to initiate the NDW has undoubtedly emerged from the learning and

achievements of Dalit Watch – Bihar (DW-B). Initially with Dalit Samanway, a flash survey was

done in 1970 villages in 123 blocks in 11 districts which confirmed the discrimination. A platform

was formed with organizations and networks - Bchpan Bachao Andolan, Baarh Sukhad Mukti

Andolan, Dalit Samanway, Lokshakti Sangathan, and Nari Gunjan from Bihar, spearheaded and

supported by NCDHR and PRAXIS (Patna). DW-B monitored the status of inclusion of Dalit

communities in relief and rehabilitation, and came out with a report which described the serious

situation of the Dalits in all the flood affected districts, and exposed exclusion and discrimination all

along in 2007*. This was explored systematically and scientifically through a relief audit that

scanned 205 relief camps in five districts as well as a study on community managed disaster risk

reduction in September 2008*. These reports were perhaps the first of their kind and served as tools

of advocacy. The NDW works collaboratively with organizations striving for the protection of

human rights, and those particularly working for Dalit human rights during disaster situations.


WHY NATIONAL DALIT WATCH?

2

* G. Timothy., ‘Making things Worse: How Caste-Blindness in an Indian Post Tsunami recovery has exacerbated vulnerability and exclusion, (2007) * http://www.indianet.nl/ncdhr_hearing.doc *The Affected and the Relief & Rehabilitation-Status report on Bihar Flood, 2007 * For a Morsel of Life! (2008)

http://www.indianet.nl/ncdhr_hearing.doc

OUR OBJECTIVES:-

- ENSURE a truly inclusive

disaster preparedness

mechanism;

- GET in place a just system

of Recovery and

Rehabilitation;

- DEVELOP vulnerability

mapping tool which would

also assist other

organizations in assessing

causes of vulnerability of

the socially excluded

sections; &

- ADVOCATE for policies

and legislation that

recognize discrimination

which exists by default, and

thereby, make it imperative

for state and its agencies to

have a special focus on the

inclusion of Dalits and

other marginalized

communities in DRR.

NATIONAL DALIT WATCH


Instituted to work at the national and state level, NDW is currently aligned

with the like minded organisations working on the issue of

exclusion/inclusion in the flood prone states of Bihar, Assam, Andhra

Pradesh and Karnataka for a truly inclusive and egalitarian disaster

response and preparedness. For this, NDW is working towards developing a

refined tools and methods to identify; expose and document this form of

discrimination.

Components of collaborative work with state counterparts have included

providing assistance in documentation, information dissemination,

accompaniment to the field, periodic meetings, capacity building in latest

disaster management techniques and practice of Community Managed

Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR), facilitation in state level advocacy,

campaign and lobby.

NDW enables Dalits‟ rights organizations, local activists and the

community leadership in various parts of the country to effectively monitor

discrimination and exclusion during disasters. All this, with the objective of

having inclusive policies and guidelines in place, by acknowledging the

existence of Dalits and their vulnerability in disasters, owing to their social

positioning. At the national level through advocacy and lobby means,

NDW works towards instituting a policy environment that recognizes such

discrimination and defines entitlements of survivors in a manner that makes

the state accountable.



3

Dalit Watch Bihar is a network of Dalit-focused organizations in Bihar, formed in response to

the severe floods of 2007. The network comprises Bachpan Bachao Andolan, Baadh Sukhad

Mukti Andolan, Dalit Samanvay, Lok Shakti Sangathan, Nari Gunjan and Praxis (Patna).

Apart from disaster risk reduction work, these individual organisations work on child rights, Dalit girls education (particularly of Musahar caste girls), land and water rights, right to

information and participatory approaches to sustainable development.

The Human Rights Forum for Dalit Liberation - Karnataka (HRFDL-K) members belong to the

Dalit community. Its Karnataka-based activists have been active members of various social movements, particularly Dalit Sangharsh Samiti. It was conceived to accelerate the Dalit

struggle in Karnataka with a human rights perspective. The interventions include land struggle, panchayat election campaign, campaign for justice in caste violence and violence

against Dalit women, right to education of Dalit children, food security, right to health

campaign, campaigns for SC/ST hostels, implementation of reservation especially in the private sector and struggle against the impacts of globalisation.

Rural Volunteers Centre, Assam is one of the leading grass roots organizations of North East

India committed towards promoting self-sustaining development initiatives, determined by

people‟s needs, choices and priorities and capitalizing on local skills and resources. The works of RVC mainly focus on promoting appropriate technology, creating opportunities and spaces

for learning through practices of the local people, value addition to the traditional livelihood practices, educating policy and promoting advocacy works.

Dalit Watch Andhra Pradesh is an amalgam of several community based, state and national

level organisations, namely, Sakshi Human Rights Watch, Dalit Bahujan Sramik Union .A.P.

(DBSU), Mamidipudi Venkatarangaiya Foundation (MVF), Confederation of Voluntary Associations (COVA), Bhavita, PARA, OOTA, ROADS, SAFE, PREACHERS, SPEAR,

and Indira Chaitanya Mahila Mandali. These constituents work on issues of Dalit economic

empowerment, implementation of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, women self help groups, capacity building, child rights, education, agriculture and labour rights and so on.

WHOM WE WORK

WITH?

THE MODUS OPERANDI

- Capacity building of frontline staff with

contemporary applications in CMDRR

and Monitoring, for inclusion of

excluded Dalit victims in disaster

recovery and rehabilitation

- Inclusion monitoring (rapid assessment

and full fledged) studies during and

post disaster

- Filing of RTI applications to gather

required information on disaster relief

and rehabilitation.

- Submission of memoranda to

concerned authorities

- National, State and regional level

advocacy and campaigns for securing

entitlements and compensation to the

excluded victims

- Organisation of Dalit survivors into

cadre of volunteers, awareness building

and engagement with political leaders

- Engaging with the CSOs, INGOs,

NGOs, UN agencies, bi-lateral and

multi-lateral agencies for wider

endorsement of the problem and

collective actions

THE PREMISE



2009-10

As said above, the key learning from the DW-Bihar experience of monitoring the 2007 and 2008 floods formed the premise for NDW‟s work. These learnings are:

1. Dalits live in secluded habitations outside the main village thus limiting their access to the mainstream society which is apt to have better access to information and infrastructure. By the very location of habitation they have lower access to information, public education, disaster resilient infrastructure or communication for immediate action.

2. The livelihood situation of Dalits, dependent on wage labour coming

from working for the dominant castes, without assets, are particularly vulnerable to hazards when their ability to access daily employment is affected. Any protracted lack of employment exposes them to the danger of hunger, starvation and ill health.

3. The norms of untouchability also place many limitations on how Dalits

can access safety, security or relief during disaster. Continuing societal norms of pollution in using common water sources, common dining and common place for accommodation are prevalent in the minds of non Dalits propel Dalits to keep out of the way of non Dalits owing to fear of

reprisals and conflicts. 4. They often live in unsafe conditions that expose them more severely to

disasters. There are very few infrastructure provisions or community facilities in these habitations and protection in times of disaster is a serious problem.

5. With the poverty situation, the nutrition and health conditions of Dalits

are poorer and their resistance to illnesses low. Anaemia, malnutrition and other ailments also make them more vulnerable. Combined with the unhealthy conditions of their living, they are most prone to suffer the outbreak of diseases in times of disaster.

The learning generated an advocacy agenda for NDW for equity and inclusion in disaster management to (i) Put in place just and inclusive mechanisms of pre-disaster warning; (ii) relief services during disaster and (iii) post disaster recovery and rehabilitation. „Discrimination by default‟ is as much an issue as discrimination by norm and intent and is prevalent both within the civil society and administration. Even in cases where there is no intentional bias against Dalit communities, the lack of knowledge about their vulnerabilities, not mapping these communities in the context of the disaster and prevalent norms of operations result in the administration not taking up the cause of Dalit and other marginalized

communities in times of disaster. Often this is also co-existent and accentuated with the overt and covert dominant community bias and pressures, shoeing away Dalits from channels and means of gathering pre-disaster warning and relief and rehabilitation benefits. A series of disasters, including the Gujarat earthquake (2001), tsunami (2004), Bihar floods (2007 and 2008), Assam floods over several years (particularly 2009), Andhra Pradesh (2009) and Yamuna floods (2010), have highlighted the degree to which, by virtue of their inherent socio-economic vulnerability, Dalits have been systematically excluded from relief and rehabilitation efforts.

“We lost our ration cards to

the floods, and are not

getting regular rations from

the dealer because he does

not accept the temporary

cards issued to us by the

authority, despite being

instructed by the Mandal

Revenue Officer”. 4

Given the above scenario, and having ascertained the practice of

exclusion and discrimination, in Andhra Pradesh, two studies were

undertaken in 2009 and 2010 respectively, and in March 2010,

Karnataka flood study was conducted. Later in the year 2010, Delhi

received heavy rainfall and water from the Hathnikund barrage of

Haryana, which resulted in floods. Some parts of Bihar also

witnessed flood situation when river Gandak breached its coursein te

same year. The studies commissioned look at the pre-existing

vulnerabilities of these victims, their socio-economic background, the

perils and troubles they have been landed into post floods.

The specific objectives of conducting studies in *AP and *Karnataka are

as below:-

- To monitor whether the authorities gave relief to the affected Dalits with dignity;

- To verify whether there was any discrimination in giving

relief;

- To figure out if Dalits received equal attention and care as did the upper caste people when the relief operations were underway;

- To check whether the temporary shelters erected by the government were helpful and compensation given against the losses was sufficient; & - To find out about the plight of women and children in particular.

The surveys conducted soon after the Yamuna floods in Delhi* and

Gandak river floods in Bihar had the following objectives:-

-To assess the efforts made by the government to mitigate the looming threat of floods; -Steps advanced in providing relief to the Dalits and other marginalized sections; -To assess the extent of damage borne by the Dalit and other marginalised sections;

-To find out if any scientific damage assessment was carried out by the officials following the floods.


THE MONITORING STUDIES


2009-10

5

THE RATIONALE

*Report on Monitoring Exclusion of Dalits in Relief and Rehabilitation Interventions following AP floods, 2009 ‘The Excluded in Relief & Rehabilitation’, following the AP floods, 2009 [phase II] *The Uncertainties of life…living through waters of dejection, 2010

e

Floods in Karnataka, October 2009

Almost five months after the devastation, a study was undertaken in the worst-hit district, Bijapur. Many Dalits regretted how the local officials favoured people of their own caste and ill-treated the Dalits. 75% of the respondents assented to the question of discrimination during the distribution of the relief material, and an overwhelming 92% of the Dalits denied suitable compensation. The floods had only worsened the drudgery of the everyday life of the women. The main reasons behind this dissatisfaction was lack of proper survey of Dalit colonies, lack of scientific and professional assessment of the damage caused by the floods, and of course, large-scale corruption especially at the local level. The sheds constructed to house the victims immediately after the floods turned out to be inhospitable for Dalits as most of them were chased

away by the so called upper caste people. In pursuance of the matter, HRFDL-K has filed RTI applications, held direct mass programmes to protest against non-compliance of the authorities to the rehabilitation code, and got the State Human Rights Commission to acknowledge the negligence on the part of the administration, amounting to violation of basic human rights of Dalits.

Floods in Andhra Pradesh, October 2009

Past experiences of discrimination of Dalits and media reporting on the same in rescue and relief operations during the 2009 floods in AP had alerted the Civil Society Organisations concerned about Dalit rights. This resulted in the constitution of Dalit Watch-AP. Sudden depressions in Bay of Bengal caused heavy downpour in the catchment areas of Tungabhadra and Krishna rivers causing heavy flooding of the state of Andhra Pradesh. A survey was conducted by Dalit Watch AP, covering 308 villages of the 565 affected villages of five districts, namely, Karnool, Mahboobnagar, Nalgonda, Krishna and

Guntur, from 20-26 October 2009. In 60% of the SC and ST habitations the people weren‟t aware of the government relief package. The second phase survey was conducted covering two most badly affected districts, Kurnool and Mehboobnagar, from 23 February-2 March 2010, at the behest of the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. It was found that a significant proportion of Dalits had not received the immediate relief of essential commodities as per the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) norms. Quite a substantial number of SCs and STs had not received compensation for loss of their belongings, and many families went non-enumerated in the lists of compensation.

With the findings of the studies, DW-AP has engaged in a dialogue with political leaders and responsible authorities from the block to state levels, for making them to take corrective steps to register the material and human losses and damages suffered by Dalit victims. The activities conducted to strike a dialogue with these authorities will be learnt in the

later section.

`



2009-10

“The local officials were

reluctant to visit our

Dalit basti to assess the

damage caused by

floods („09) and

enumerate our losses”.

6

NDW- National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights


2009-10

The Yamuna floods, Sept-Oct 2010

NDW commissioned a weeklong survey from 19-25 October, stretching

over three locations, Shastri Park, Vijay Ghat and Mayur village (Chilla

Khadar village), covering 409 families in the jhuggi-jhonpri (JJ)

clusters. The idea was to ascertain the extent of inclusion/exclusion of

Dalits in relief and rehabilitation measures during the Yamuna floods

of 2010. Before embarking on the study, the social category of the

victims was not known, and it was only after fact finding visits made to

badly affected regions of Delhi that the caste dynamics unfolded.

Amongst the worst affected households in these JJ clusters, 79%

belonged to the Dalits, followed by the second highest prevalence of

Other Backward Castes (OBC) at 14%. The Yamuna floods had

decimated every shack on its plain. These areas were found to be

predominated by Dalits (42%) from UP and Bihar (18%), settled in

Delhi for over 50 years, cultivating the river bed.

During the survey, the inconsistencies and flaws in the relief operation

came to light apart from the deep sense of loss faced by the survivors.

The compensation and entitlements of the survivors are yet to be

known from the Delhi government, for as of now, there has been no

such announcement. Critical evaluation of facts helped to establish the

success of the mechanism and steps taken by the Delhi government in

making the lives and property of the victims secure.

In order to chalk out specific strategies to demand the entitlements of

the Yamuna flood affected people in 2010, a preliminary meeting of all

concerned organizations and individuals was arranged, on January7,

2011, at NCDHR. With this meeting, the process of gathering

representation/applications from the victims and their submission and

meeting with the authorities was mutually decided upon. Since then,

community consultations have been conducted and periodical visits

made to the locations surveyed to organise the communities to facilitate

their application for compensation and entitlements. Applications for

compensation have been received from the survivors.

The Gandak floods, Sept-Oct 2010

Gandak River breached its embankment at village Simariya (block

Baraulli) on the 19 September 2010, inundating many villages, which

had not seen floods for quite long. With the monitoring experience of the

2008 Kosi floods, DW-B set out to monitor the situation and damages

incurred by Dalits and other marginalised communities, from 8-13

October „10, across five blocks in district Gopalganj, namely, Gopalganj

Sadar, Majhagar, Sidhwalia, Kutchai Kot and Barauli. Approx. 6000

families, inclusive of Dalits and minorities were covered. The study

revealed that the administration swung into action only after the fall out

of the embankment, while preventive measures were not taken to avoid

the deluge.

“We were charged for

receiving government

boat services which

we could ill-

afford…hence, had to

forego our household

belongings”.

7

Though loss of life and other assets at home was found to be minimal, affect to the huts and crops, severely hit the Dalits, taking away their dwelling place and livelihood as daily wage earners

Even after 5 days of the cyclone, when the electricity was not restored, the villagers

approached the Panchayat president who denied supporting them stating that 'they didn‟t vote

for him, and they shouldn‟t ask him any favors. With no water supply restored on 7th January,

villagers Mr. Murugan and Jayachanran went to meet the Panchayat president at the Panchayat

office where there were several people in the room. When they enquired about the water

supply and electricity, the Panchayat president rudely abused them mentioning them their

caste. When they got upset and tried to leave, the group tried to tie them up and slapped them, but with help from other villagers the duo were

released. In village Ameipala of Block Mahakalapara, Kendrapara, Bidulata, a widow with two married sons and their children, came to know of the flood with unceasing barking of the dog. She lost everything to the flood, and her name didn‟t even feature in the damaged houses enumeration list of the government. Moreover, she was persuaded by a local leader to give money for getting her name enumerated in the list.

At the time of flood, Bijay, of village Sansidha of Aul block, approached the Anganwadi worker for

relief. The Anganwadi worker belonging to the upper caste did not open the door for him at

first. After much persuasion, the Anganwadi worker gave him poor quality chuda (flat rice)

and rice, on consuming which Bijay‟s family suffered with diarrhea and dysentery .No

medical assistance too was available at hand.

TSUNAMI („04) BIHAR FLOODS (‟07), KOSI FLOODS

(‟08) AP & KARNATAKA FLOODS („09), YAMUNA

FLOODS IN DELHI (‟10), THANE CYCLONE IN TAMIL

NADU & ODISHA FLOODS (‟12)

Thane cyclone Social audit and Inclusion Monitoring

Thane Cyclone wrecked havoc in the state of Tamil Nadu in December 2011, badly hitting the districts of Cuddalore, Villupuram and Pondicherry. Spurred by the media reports of atrocities against Dalits and past documented evidences of CBD and exclusion during the tsunami in Tamil Nadu in 2004, NDW conducted the social audit through a team of social activists to look into the situation of Dalits. The social audit re-confirmed the same tragic state of affairs for Tamil Nadu, leading to extreme forms of

exclusion, thus exacerbating vulnerability of Dalits by manifold. The social audit in the district of Cuddalore highlighted yet again that location of public tube wells (with or without raised platforms), cyclone/flood shelters, distribution centres, etc. are often decided on the basis of perceived physical access without taking in to consideration the aspect of social access.

Subsequently, an Inclusion Monitoring survey was also undertaken in the districts of Cuddalore and Villupuram, across 40 identified Dalit villages having around 2000 households, through 30 trained volunteers, which also included TISS students. The study was commissioned with assistance from local organizations and our CMDRR network associates, Kalvikendra,

Hope and HelpAge India.

Inclusion Monitoring in Odisha floods 2011

Odisha also witnessed an intense flood situation in the year 2011. It affected 19 districts, of which, the situation in Puri, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Jajapur and Cuttack districts was more critical. Knowing of the state‟s following of the caste system and documented evidences of CBD and exclusion during the Orissa Super Cyclone of 1999, NDW, along with its local partners like Action for Rural Upliftment and Planning (ARUP), REISWA, CSJD and VICALP monitored government‟s rescue and relief operations to assess their reach to SC/ST communities.

The immediate objectives of the surveys were to (i) assess the process of relief of the government during the Thane cyclone and Orissa floods; and (ii) assist the communities in accessing entitlements from the authorities, besides the long term advocacy with the humanitarian stakeholders and governments to make DR-DRR responsive and inclusive to Dalits. In Orissa, about 1400 individual applications for compensation of Dalit victims have been filed in Kendrapara alone, supplemented by application under RTI Act, which are being followed up regularly through state personnel and special core group constituted for the purpose of inclusion monitoring in the state, who meet regularly to review and plan way ahead.



8

In East Champaran, Dalits were compelled to drink flood water after being beaten up by the dominant castes for fetching water in their locality, when their hand pump was submerged in floods.

“The local officials demandes a part of the compensation first and then tell us how much we are going to get. Because of our caste, we

weren‟t given shelter.”

The families that were given temporary tin sheds by the government are suffering for want for basic amenities like toilets.

“I could not procure a tent for my family during floods, whereas, some families

possessed extra numbers; nor could we get food… because we are Muslims.”

“We had to either purchase fodder on prices ranging from Rs.150-250 per sack, or had to offer bribe to the gate keepers of public gardens to seek permission to cut some grass… the government had no arrangement at all for the livestock.”

The tents and food were not properly distributed to all victims spread across

different locations. This excluded those that stayed up on the embankment and those

trapped in the interiors. A sizeable proportion of school going children lost their school books due to which they could not resume school after floods. Also, water logging and overflowing open pits on the road made parents hold back their wards to avoid any risks of falling into those.

TSUNAMI („04) BIHAR FLOODS (‟07), KOSI FLOODS

(‟08) AP & KARNATAKA FLOODS („09), YAMUNA

FLOODS IN DELHI (‟10), THANE CYCLONE In TAMIL

NADU AND ODISHA FLOODS (2011-12)


DISCRIMINATION IN DISASTERS

“I delivered my baby amid flood and rain under the open sky…”

The village Balipatana is situated near the catchment area of river

Brahmani. The total population of the village is more than 6000, of which

five to six hundreds are Dalits. The flood had gutted the entire village, and

only four boats were provided to the Panchayat for two villages. The two

boats were captured by dominant caste and used by the followers of a

particular political party. In these circumstances, Puspa Jena, was

undergoing labour and her condition required immediate medical

assistance. The nearby hospital being 4 KM away from the village, her

brother, rushed to the village head for help. The village head when

reproached, denied help saying the boats were provided for plying relief

material, and not for medical use. On consistent pleading, Pushpa was

refused assistance saying she was a Dalit. Amidst chaos and lack of medical

attention, she delivered in unhygienic condition. Moreover, her name could

not be enumerated for benefits under the schemes of Mamata and Janani

Surakshya yojana as she delivered at her house.

Odisha flood, 2011

A Glimpse into…

“The floods washed away my eight-year-old daughter and I lost my second child

too. Both my children have left me in pain. I don‟t know what to live for.”

25-year-old Dyamavva Ravikanth of Arjunagi, one of the worst flood-hit

villages in Bijapur district, lost her two children to the floods. The floods

encircled her village when she was in the last few days of her second

pregnancy. Even as her husband was struggling to shift her to a safer place,

the couple saw their little daughter being washed away by the floods. A

couple of days later, Dyamavva saw the girl‟s body floating in the stagnant

water some miles away from her village. A few days later, she delivered a

baby boy only to see the newborn succumb to an undiagnosed illness a few

days later. What could be possibly asked of a woman who has lost two

children to the floods and is still waiting for compensation?

“We saw loads of relief material being offloaded from trucks. But the local

officials (the tahsildar and the village accountant) made sure that only the upper

caste people got it and we were left behind.”

According to Peerappa Madar of Bijapur, although the entire village

suffered huge losses in the floods, the Dalit families received paltry

compensation ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 3,000 apart from five kilos of rice.

In contrast, many upper caste families got up to Rs 37,000 as compensation.

The situation wasn‟t any better at the gruel centre either. Since Arjunagi

was one of the worst-affected villages in Bijapur district, the centre was run

for nearly 15-20 days. Dalits were made to queue up for hours on end while

the upper caste people, especially women and children, were given the

priority. The plight of Dalit children was even more heart-rending as they

had to eat out of their parents‟ plates and were even reduced to begging.

Karnataka floods, October 2009


8

9

PROMISING PRACTICES

9



a. Adequate preparation: Demographic information of the area, socio-

economic profile, history of caste-based oppression / atrocities etc.

The deciding factors for selection of flood affected areas were predominantly the scale of damage and devastation of human lives and the social composition of the areas. It is inevitable to possess demographic information of the area and its socio-economic profile before planning any intervention. In the process of equipping oneself with all these basic and vital information the pre-existing vulnerabilities of the affected masses was equally focussed and is handy with the researchers. Thereby, building perspective and

capturing the deep rooted causes of the marginalisation. In the context of Dalits, the generational discrimination is well known to all. The need was to find out what forms of discrimination prevailed in the affected localities, practiced both by the upper castes people and the officials, be it by default or age old caste bias. In all monitoring studies, such information was sought from the local organisations and groups operating in the areas, and through intensive research on the issue and the community. All this information helps in strategically planning out the survey in Dalit colonies.

b. Vulnerability Mapping & Inclusion Monitoring Manual (monitoring

through Dalit lens) Developed community friendly Vulnerability Mapping & Inclusion Monitoring frameworks for tracking down caste-induced vulnerabilities for inclusion in Disaster Response and Risk Reduction programme of the government and humanitarian organisations. The training manual lays down a process of tracking and assessing the specific vulnerabilities of Dalits. In the process, the communities will be able to identify the key government authorities obligated to meet their needs and demands in (i) pre-disaster (ii) during disaster; and (iii) post disaster scenario. The manual primarily aims at engaging the community volunteers in assessing their own vulnerabilities associated with caste and other factors, and thereby taking measures to approach the authorities for their entitlements, and preparedness to hazards/ disasters. The VM-IM tools have been evolved in association with Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR) network of organisations under Cordaid, the Netherlands to The optimum utility of the VM-IM frameworks is envisaged to be a mechanism whereby information thus generated would feed into the process of formation of inclusive District Disaster Management Plans.

While at work, certain strategic steps have been taken in order to visibalise the issue before the agencies and authorities concerned. A series of activities were conducted which have helped in establishing the need before the CSOs, NGOs and the UN agencies to address the issue of caste based discrimination and exclusion, by default or by design, in all their approaches to the DRR work. These activities and practices have also helped bring synergy between the work done at the community level, state and the national levels. Some such practices are:-

1. PREPARING FOR THE SURVEY: A COLLECTIVE PROCESS

10



11

c. Pilot applications of VM-IM tools in the field

The VM-IM tools have been piloted in the flood affected regions of NDW interventions in Mehboobnagar, Kurnool, Vijaynagaram and Prakasham districts of Andhra Pradesh, Raichur, Yadagir and Bijapur districts in Karnataka, Jorhat and Lakhimpur districts in Assam, and Kendrapara and Jajpur districts in Orissa. About 25-30 trained volunteers constitute task forces in each of the states. The process of identification of volunteers is an ongoing continuous process to train as many as possible and available for the same, thereby ensuring the task forces always have the required strength. Pilot application of VM-IM has generated additional information and facts on forms of exclusion of Dalits in DR-DRR. This exercise has helped

community identify their vulnerabilities and has created rights awareness among them. The authorities have been approached with supplementary memoranda and victims compensated with housing in Bijapur district, Karnataka. Applications have also been filed in Orissa for the first time for entitlements of the victims after inclusion monitoring survey as people had no knowledge whatsoever about the compensation packages and mechanisms of the state.

d. Confluence of human rights groups, activists and organisations

Having started the work through a coalition in Bihar, which helped in the exchange of each organisation‟s expertise and knowledge base, conscious

efforts have been made by the organisations in the states to work in coalitions. The organisations in coalition have different target groups and mandates. Yet when these like organisations came together, they brought in the added value to the work for securing entitlements for disaster victims. While DW-B and Andhra Pradesh are constituted of state level organisations and a union, HRFDL-K has support of field activists and local organisations and CBOs. In this process, the communities and Dalit community leaders have been educated about the entitlements. With facilitation from these entities, the survivors‟ communities have been organised and empowered to approach the local authorities. Engagement of a coalition and a union on the issue has enriched the entire process of subsequent follow ups on the situation of victims at the block and district levels. This has also strengthened the survivors to claim their entitlements, facilitating leadership among Dalit victims.

Public Interest Litigation for Entitlements

against 2009 Floods to the excluded Dalit

victims of, Andhra Pradesh

After having extensively followed up

with the authorities on entitlements of

Dalit victims post 2009 floods, Dalit

Watch-Andhra Pradesh has taken to

legal recourse after undue silence of the

authorities in the matter. A Public Interest Litigation (W.No. 46 of 2012) is

filed in the Hyderabad High Court, for not

just praying the government to pay the

compensation to the victims, but also

initiate action against the concerned

authorities under Section 61 of the Disaster

Management Act, 2005, and under the

provisions of the Scheduled Castes and

Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of

Atrocities) Act, 1989, for discriminating

and excluding the Dalit families from

enumerating their losses. The case is

pending in the state High court.



Despite several

complaints given by the

Dalits to the concerned

police officials, regarding

the ill-treatment and

discriminatory

distribution of relief, none

were registered. 11

3.1. I. Engaging with the state

3.2.

3.3. After having gathered evidences and testimonials to prevalent caste biases in the relief and rehabilitation during some these recent disasters, advocacy and lobby measures are being taken at diverse levels, to secure entitlements of the victims and make the existing policies and guidelines inherently inclusive to Dalits and other vulnerable sections. The endeavours are summed up below:-

- NDW representative participated in the „DDMP District level Stakeholders‟ Consultation‟ at Madhubani, Bihar, in 9-11 June 2011, organized by Sphere India. NDW‟s participation was called upon for ensuring inclusion of concerns pertaining to Dalits and other marginalized groups in the process of formulation of DDMP. Besides ongoing dialogue for the same, NDW has provided inputs to Sphere India‟s Madhubani DDMP model Stakeholder plan for Dalit and Tribal Associations. DDMP process is one where the national disaster management law in the country mandates consultation with the community and CSOs for people‟s concerns and needs to reflect in plans for decentralised and proper management of disasters.

-Constitution of Information & Action centres (IACs) in 11 districts of Bihar, envisioned being a model that would be an antecedent for an effective community–state interface at the Panchayat, block and district levels. IACs intervene on specific exclusion instances in disasters by getting into dialogue with local village level administration; paying adequate attention to other important issues impacting the lives of Dalits, such as the implementation of NREGA. Besides exercising pressure on the authorities, IACs report on the basis of disaggregated data for all the vulnerable groups, mainly Dalits, women, disabled, children and aged, particularly belonging to the marginalized communities.

-Continuous engagement with the Principal Secretary to Chief Minister,

AP, (resulting into second phase survey) and dialogue with Karnataka State Human Rights Commission, and the Backward Class Commission; persistent work with the officials comprising the Commissioner of Disaster Management, Block Revenue Officers, Village Revenue officers, Executive Director of Housing Corporation, Commissioner Panchayat Raj, the Commissioner and Additional Commissioner of Disaster Management, Commissioner of Civil Supplies and the District Revenue officers.

3.4. - Letters to the Chief Minister and Governor of Karnataka, bringing the

issue to their cognizance and seeking the timeline set for providing (63,000) houses to the flood victims by the government. HRFDL-K has demanded the constitution of the State Disaster Management Authority and formation of district level special task forces for immediate redress of issues pertaining to disaster management.

- Submission of the declaration to the National Disaster Management

Authority by a team of delegates comprising representatives of the CSOs, having met with the Hon‟ble Member of NDMA.

2. ADVOCACY & LOBBY

12

- Application under the Right to Information Act 2005 filed to the office of the Principal Secretary (Revenue)-cum- Divisional Commissioner,

Delhi, seeking precise and detailed information regarding various aspects of flood control and disaster response work, as per the “Flood Control Order, 2009 and ‟10, of the Government of Delhi; and application to the Kollapur Block of Mehboobnagar in AP, seeking disaggregated record of the affected people belonging to SC/ST and Minority, their losses and corresponding compensations as per the CRF guidelines.

- Submission of the Memoranda to the district collectors and other

concerned officials in AP and Karnataka. - DW-AP is advocating and working on the framing of state‟s model

rules on disaster management (with reference to the Juvenile Justice Act), demanding dignified and human treatment to Dalits in all respect.

3.5. II. Drawing the civil society organisations and the media towards

‘inclusion’ 1. Addressing caste discrimination in Humanitarian Response

NDW commissioned a study Addressing caste discrimination in

Humanitarian Response, supported by IDSN and EU in the year 2011-12.

It contains a draft framework for International Humanitarian Stakeholders for addressing CBD in Disaster Response (DR), and Good practices case studies from India on inclusion of caste affected groups in

DRR intervention. The study extract was presented at the International Consultation on Caste-Based Discrimination, on 29 November - 1 December 2011, in Kathmandu, Nepal and later in New Delhi, at the National Consultation, on 14-15 December 2011. The draft received inputs and comments from ECHO and the UNDP personnel at Delhi consultation which were incorporated in the final document.

2. National Consultation on „Addressing Caste Based Discrimination in

Humanitarian Response‟, New Delhi

NDW co-organised with Sphere India, Christian Aid-India, Oxfam and

Cordaid, a National Consultation (NC) on „Addressing Caste Based Discrimination in Humanitarian Response‟, on the 14 and 15 of December 2011, in New Delhi. The primary objectives were to (i) take stock of the emerging context of inclusion in DR-DRR; (ii) elicit response/comments on the draft framework for making Dalit inclusion in DR-DRR possible under the study named „Draft Framework for Addressing caste based discrimination in humanitarian response‟; and (iii) extract inputs from humanitarian stakeholders for sharpening the VM-IM frameworks. The consultation observed active presence of Dr. Muzzaffar Ahmad, Hon‟ble Member, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA),

among other representatives, and members of European Commission Humanitarian Organisation (ECHO), United Nations Development Pprogramme (UNDP), International and domestic NGOs, several civil society representatives, social activists and academics. The forum witnessed reinforced commitment by the Member of NDMA to cater to the Dalits and other marginalized sections. ECHO senior personnel also expressed the interest in using the VM-IM tool in their assessments; asking for disaggregated data from their implementing agencies; and involving the presence of Dalits in their task forces in the field to ensure inclusion.



12 13

3. Inclusion of Dalits: An agenda on '9th Sphere India Foundation Day' event

The '9th Sphere India Foundation Day', chaired by Dr. Muzzaffar Ahmad, Member, NDMA saw the agenda of Dalit inclusion in Humanitarian action (HA) included in the programme, among other thematic issues for group discussion. NDW representative articulated the need for 'Collective advocacy with Sphere networks and IAGs for recognition of caste induced vulnerabilities in the Disaster Management Act and Rules, Guidelines and Policy', as one of the points of the 5 core recommendations to Sphere India‟s unified response for the year 2012. Sphere India being a coalition of several expert and leading humanitarian organizations in India is always a platform of strategic importance. Since Sphere India works closely with the NDMA, efforts are made to visibalise and articulate the

issue at every forum of Sphere India, for the guaranteed presence of NDMA Members on its panel. The need for collective advocacy with active lead and support of Sphere India for inclusive legal mechanisms was endorsed by other group members comprising representatives of ECHO and Save the Children among other organisations.

4. Deliberations with the ECHO, Sphere India and UNDP

A series of important meetings have taken place from time to time in this time period with the ECHO, UNDP and Sphere India. These dialogues have been crucial for NDW for these leading and widely working organizations have the mandate of working for marginalised groups. The

agenda has been of working out modalities and possibilities of joint advocacy for inclusive legal systems in India for disaster management, and inclusive humanitarian approaches. Meetings with UNDP‟s DRR wing have primarily been to discuss ways of integrating aspects of VM-IM tools into the existing vulnerability assessment formats of various organizations and UNDP members. The subsidiary agenda being to use the UN Solution exchange community on Disaster Management for highlighting critical issues of CBD in disasters, for inviting public opinion/comments and reactions to the same, to build a strong voice of consensus on the advocacy issues of NDW. UNDP has been quite forthcoming in meeting with us and charting out a way ahead for collective steps in taking the issue of exclusion to wider humanitarian actors through its online query posting, where NDW has posted queries post Thane cyclone in Tamil Nadu 2011. (Ref. [se-drm] QUERY: Inclusion and Protection of Dalits in Disaster Response and Risk Reduction-Advice, March 23, 2012)

5. National consultation on, “Exclusion of Dalits in Disaster Risk Reduction

Interventions- effective civil society monitoring”

Co-organised with Sphere India on 18-19 June 2010, this event marked participation of representatives from NGOs, International NGOs, Member of NDMA,, academics from TISS, and officers from the UN bodies, viz.

the UNDP, to deliberate on the issue to conceive effective solutions for an inclusive disaster management mechanism. Such a consultation placing forward the issue of CBD in disasters was unique in its own way. The declarations formulated received endorsement from the CSOs and international organisations working on the issues of Dalits and ethnic minorities. The declaration also was further developed in the IDSN-EU supported study, mentioned above. (Available at -

http://www.idsn.org/fileadmin/user_folder/pdf/New_files/India/2012/IDSN-EU_study_on_CBD_in_humanitarian_response_by_NDW.pdf )



14

http://www.idsn.org/fileadmin/user_folder/pdf/New_files/India/2012/IDSN-EU_study_on_CBD_in_humanitarian_response_by_NDW.pdf

http://www.idsn.org/fileadmin/user_folder/pdf/New_files/India/2012/IDSN-EU_study_on_CBD_in_humanitarian_response_by_NDW.pdf

INTERMEDIATE ACHIEVEMENTS IN A

NUTSHELL

- Vulnerability Mapping-Inclusion

Monitoring Tool

- Creation of a committed and professional

cadre of monitors at every district,

supported by the nodal / partner

organizations to monitor Dalit exclusion

- Strengthened the advocacy agenda of

NDW nationally and internationally

- Strategically important study

„Addressing caste discrimination in

humanitarian response‟

- Inclusion agenda being mainstreamed

into the Sphere humanitarian agenda

- The issue is visibalised and articulated on

different crucial public forums and the

NDMA leading to slow yet important

dialogues

- Total number of volunteers capacitated

in VM-IM across Andhra Pradesh,

Karnataka, Assam – 180

CHALLENGES

- Sustainability of the programme, the

structures and liabilities that it builds up

- Unpreparedness among the legislative

members in states to take up the issue of

CBD in disasters due to difficult political

terrains

- Proactiveness of the government

servants at all levels to engage and

hostility of the bureaucrats is a risk

- Vulnerability Mapping & Inclusion Monitoring (VM-IM) workshop, 10-11 March 2011, NCDHR, New Delhi

- Planning meeting for compensation of Yamuna flood victims on 07 Jan 2011, in NCDHR

- One day consultation to address the issues of Exclusion under Rescue and Relief Operation, 27 October 2010, Kurnool, AP

- Press Meet in district Kurnool, AP, 26 September 2010

- Mass convention in Mahboobnagar, AP, 21 September 2010

- Press Meet following Gandak Floods, Patna, Bihar, 20 September 2010

- Mass Convention on 'Experiences of Dalit Communities in the wake of Disasters, 28 August ‟10, Patna, Bihar

- Public hearing , 21 August 2010, Bangalore, Karnataka

- Press Meet in Hyderabad, on 7 July 2010

- National Consultation on, “Exclusion of Dalit in DRR Interventions-Effective Civil Society Monitoring”, 18 & 19 June 2010, New Delhi

- Coordination & Orientation meeting for Information and Action centres‟ monitors, 3rd February 2010, Patna, Bihar

- Consultation on Disasters, Discrimination & Dalit Rights, 4 -5 March 2010, Patna, Bihar

MAIN ACTIVITIES



15

REPORTS & PUBLICATIONS



--The report of the Yamuna flood monitoring survey, “The uncertainties of life…living

through waters of dejection” (soft version available in Hindi and English) http://www.ncdhr.org.in/latestinterventions/Yamuna%20flood%20report.pdf

- National Consultation on “Exclusion of Dalit in DRR Interventions” report

http://www.ncdhr.org.in/latestinterventions/final%20report%20NDW%20(2).pdf

- Report of the study conducted in AP, “The Excluded in Relief and Rehabilitation”,

following October ‟09 floods http://www.ncdhr.org.in/ncdhr2/key-activities/AP_survey_report_10__wid_annexes.pdf

- Report of the study conducted after floods in Assam in 2009

http://www.ncdhr.org.in/ncdhr2/key-activities/RVC-Assam_survey%20report.pdf

- For a Morsel of Life... Bihar Relief Camp report 2008

http://www.ncdhr.org.in/ncdhr2/key-

activities/Dalit_Watch_Report_on_Flood_Relief_Camps_in_Bihar_Oct%202008.pdf

- The Resource Bank: This includes national and international disaster management

initiatives, best practices in DRR and related subjects, Government circulars, orders, national

and UN legal instruments pertaining to disaster management, schemes for SC/STs, documents

related to inclusion in DRR abroad, national legislation, policies and rules of Disaster

Management (updated regularly).

- NCDHR Newsletters highlighting NDW„s work (accessible at:

http://nationaldalitwatch-ncdhr.blogspot.com/p/recent-activities.html

NDW reports on knowledge portal for Water and Environment related issues in India:

http://www.indiawaterportal.org/post/31517

Thane cyclone social audit report

http://kafila.org/2012/02/11/caste-discrimination-in-cyclone-thane-in-tamil-nadu-and-

pondicherry-ndw-ncdhr/

Why are flood-hit homeless one year on, (28 August 2010)

http://www.hindu.com/2010/08/22/stories/2010082253230400.htm

Dalits discriminated against in flood relief, says Dalit Watch (July 10, 2010)


Flood-affected Dalits discriminated: Survey (July 10, 2010)

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Flood-affected-Dalits-discriminated-

Survey/articleshow/6149802.cms

Dalits worst hit in floods-Andhra Pradesh (February 5, 2010)


Devastated by floods, but drowned by corruption, Karnataka news (December 16, 2009)

http://www.indiatogether.org/2009/dec/rlf-karfloods.htm

Caste Discrimination in Karnataka flood relief operations

(November 9, 2009)

DALIT WATCH NEWS LINKS

16

http://www.ncdhr.org.in/latestinterventions/Yamuna%20flood%20report.pdf

http://www.ncdhr.org.in/latestinterventions/final%20report%20NDW%20(2).pdf

http://www.ncdhr.org.in/ncdhr2/key-activities/AP_survey_report_10__wid_annexes.pdf

http://www.ncdhr.org.in/ncdhr2/key-activities/RVC-Assam_survey%20report.pdf

http://www.ncdhr.org.in/ncdhr2/key-activities/Dalit_Watch_Report_on_Flood_Relief_Camps_in_Bihar_Oct%202008.pdf

http://www.ncdhr.org.in/ncdhr2/key-activities/Dalit_Watch_Report_on_Flood_Relief_Camps_in_Bihar_Oct%202008.pdf

http://nationaldalitwatch-ncdhr.blogspot.com/p/recent-activities.html

http://www.indiawaterportal.org/post/31517

http://kafila.org/2012/02/11/caste-discrimination-in-cyclone-thane-in-tamil-nadu-and-pondicherry-ndw-ncdhr/

http://kafila.org/2012/02/11/caste-discrimination-in-cyclone-thane-in-tamil-nadu-and-pondicherry-ndw-ncdhr/



http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Flood-affected-Dalits-discriminated-Survey/articleshow/6149802.cms

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Flood-affected-Dalits-discriminated-Survey/articleshow/6149802.cms


http://www.indiatogether.org/2009/dec/rlf-karfloods.htm

http://samatha.in/2009/11/09/caste-discrimination-in-karnataka-flood-relief-operations/

For more details log on www.nationaldalitwatch-ncdhr.blogspot.com

17



THE WAY AHEAD

In order to sustain its efforts, NDW, envisions achieving the following

objective in the time to come:-

- Amendments to the Disaster Management Act 2005

- Inclusive and People centric version of the SDRF/NDRF norms

of compensation

- Parliamentary advocacy

- Inclusion in Climate Change & DRR discourse and programmes

http://www.nationaldalitwatch-ncdhr.blogspot.com/

Education

Monitoring Disaster Response and Preparedness for Inclusion and Equity