উত্তরবঙ্গের পরিস্থিতিঃ অবহেলা ও প্রকৃতির দ্বন্দ্ব (পর্ব ২)

People of North Bengal suffering due to the apathy of the TMC government in the state and the BJP government in the centre, the Left student and youth organizations took it upon themselves to provide all kinds of relief to the distressed, hungry and homeless people. They gave a call through their various social media accounts and within a span of one day they collected a large quantity of relief material, consisting of dry food, medicines, bottled water, clothes, blankets, sanitary napkins, copies, pens, pencils etc. with these materials laden in sacks and crates the activists, from different districts of Bengal, set off for North Bengal. Some travelled by train (ordinary sleeper class), while some hit the road on tempos.

Upon reaching ground zero, the activists spread out in different directions, their destinations mostly being remote villages that have been the most affected by the catastrophe. Villages that have not been in the itinerary for ‘disaster tourism’ of the VVIPs.

Upon reaching the villages the young activists spent a considerable amount of time listening to the woes of the affected villagers. The latter poured out their heart to these young boys and girls. They held on to them and cried and described their chilling experiences on that fateful day and how from being well-off they suddenly turned homeless and landed under the open sky. The villagers narrated how every single belonging of theirs was washed away by the gushing water. They lost home, money, land, cattle, and livelihood. They now stared at an uncertain future. With no help, worth mentioning, coming from the administration they are unaware when their lives will again go back on track. They do not know how they are going to rebuild their homes and lives. With no one from the ruling TMC and BJP extending a hand of sympathy towards these hapless people, they clung to the activists and cried their hearts out.

The disaster struck people flocked to where the activists were distributing relief. Besides edibles, clothes and blankets, books, copies, pens and pencils were distributed amongst the students. The young activists are also holding camps where they are helping villagers, who have lost all their important documents. They are helping villagers to fill-up different forms so that they can apply for duplicate copies of their documents. Medical camps are also being held by the Red Volunteers and other activists. In these camps blood sugar and blood pressure are being checked and a month’s supply of medicines are being provided to those who need them, and medicines for fever, diarrhea, headache etc are also being given to those who need them.

A fresh appeal for donations has been made by the young activists so that they can again go to the disaster zone in the coming week and distribute the relief material.

Besides providing them with food, medicines, blankets etc, the youth activists have undertaken another very important mission. Since neither the state nor the central governments are forthcoming with compensation for the losses suffered by the people, these youngsters are guiding the villagers on how to organize themselves and build up a movement to demand and if required snatch compensation from the two governments. The villagers are being explained that compensation is their right and the duty of the governments. It is the responsibility of the government to rebuild the homes of all those who lost it. Compensation for all the lost cattle must be given. Agricultural land that is under layers of silt and or water must be restored to their original form. Schools must reopen immediately so that students can resume their studies and get their mid-day meal.

Senior leaders like the ex-Minister of the Left Front government and ex-Mayor of Siliguri and senior CPI(M) leader Ashok Bhattacharya along with the CPI(M) district secretary of Darjeeling Saman Pathak and other senior leaders have also gone around the disaster zone and have spoken extensively with the people affected by the disaster. They extended a healing touch to the aggrieved people and promised to stand by them throughout till they are adequately rehabilitated.

Left activists and cadres collecting money on a piece of red cloth in different corners of the state is a very common sight these days. Senior leaders, Polit Bureau members, Central Committee members, district secretaries, district committee members are all out on the roads collecting donations from the people which would then be used to buy materials required by the disaster hit people.

CPIM remains committed to provide succour to the people of North Bengal and not allow them to feel abandoned and forgotten.

প্রকাশ: ১৩-অক্টোবর-২০২৫

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শেষ এডিট:: 13-Oct-25 12:12 | by 2
Permalink: https://cpimwestbengal.org/neglect-and-nature-collide-the-flood-catastrophe-in-north-bengal-part-ii
Categories: Current Affairs
Tags: cpim, ecology, northbengal, northbengal flooding