Towards a Green and Sustainable Hingalganj

A Short Report on our activities of 27-29 June 2020

Note: All photos in this report are properties of volunteers of the Kanaknagar SD Institution. Kindly take permission before using or circulating any one of these images. Plagiarism is not a good practice. All the works that you see in this blog post are being done under the aegis of Kanaknagar SD Institution. 

1. Background- Shocked Out of Slumber

That the worst time becomes the best is interesting, but hardly ideal. 

On the night of 20th May, 2020, when the super cyclone 'Umpun' battered, ravaged and tattered the south of Bengal, not everyone was hiding for their lives in the tiny village of Sandelerbil. As soon as the storm ceased --and once they were sure that they and their's have survived-- Prabir, Paltan, Kunal, Aniruddha, Biplab and few other friends went out of their homes in order to assess the damage in their neighbourhood. What they saw did not quite flabbergast them, for all of them had memories of the scars left by Cyclones Aila (2009), Fani and Bulbul ( both in 2019). Perhaps the series of devastating storms (and that too within the span of a decade), had already seasoned them to atrocity; so that when they marched out with flaslights in their hands, they were a resilient band of brothers.

Paltan, Prabir and the rest of the gang's action reminded me of the above lines by Edmund Vance Cooke in his poem- 'How Did You Die?'

Growing up together has had its universal blessings for them. They had seen better days together. Friendship had made the simple joys of life manifold many a times in their lives before. That night while witnessing the devastation around, the universal magic potion of friendship was active once again, and their loss and grief was divided. Then, something extraordinary happened: instead of submitting to the ambient dismay and fatalism, they decided to rise to the occasion in unison. One of them, Paltan Mandal, still had some juice left in his phone. He took it upon himself to document every villagers plight and kept sending them to Sri Pulak Roy Chowdhury, the Headmaster of his village school--Kanaknagar Shrishtidhar Institution. 

West Bengal, the epicenter of the cyclone's landfall, saw the most widespread damage from Umpun. The storm was considered the strongest to hit the region in over a decade. At least 86 people died in West Bengal; with most of the fatalities due to electrocution or the collapse of homes. The state government estimated that the storm had caused at least ₹1 trillion (US$13.2 billion) in damage and affected 70 percent of the state's population directly. Countless homes were damaged in the South 24 Parganas, and breached river embankments had led to the flooding of villages and swathes of cropland. Saltwater inundation had affected surrounding areas, following a stretch of damage to 19 kilometres of nearby embankments. Across West Bengal, 88,000 hectares (217,000 acres) of rice paddies and 200,000 hectares (500,000 acres) of vegetable and sesame crops were damaged.[ Source: Wikipedia]

From the very next day (21 May), they found a leader with a vision. With Sri Pulak Roy Chowdhury at the helm, this team started doing systematic field surveys that identified immediate and long-term needs of the worst hit areas spread across Hingalganj. What started as a spontaneous response to a natural calamity, within a week took shape of a systematic relief and restoration work. Rebecca Solnit in her book 'A Paradise Built in Hell' said, "Disaster shocks us out of slumber, but only skillful effort keeps us awake." It is in this very context of 'skillful effort', Sri Pulak Roy Chowdhury and his army of volunteers have been working relentlessly ever since. After working over a period of 7 weeks, his team has been able to reach out to 5300 families spread all over Hingalganj- not only with emergency food and basic means of sustainance, but also with doctors and medicines.

Sri Pulak Roy Chowdhury in converstaion with a boatman on the river Goureshwar. His son Bishnu Sardar is a student of Class VIII in Kanaknagar SD Institution. 

2. Skillful Effort- It is how you fight and why

The human face of the Sundarban-Hingalganj epitomizes abject poverty, deprivation, and acute struggle against geographical challenges. Sri Pulak Roy Chowdhury's army knows that only too well. They also know that the human nature readily rises to the occassion of a crisis and as readily slacks off when the living becomes easy. Therefore, to maintain a sense of purpose, commitment and solidarity in the absence of the acute emergency, Pulak Roy Chowdhury's army is currently in the process of developing a self-sustainable and green Hingalganj-- one village at a time. Obtaining the first hand knowledge that there was food in every household ( and almost everyone was provided with a shelter) across all the cyclone hit villages, have now given them the opportunity to focus on other serious issues like 'Pollution'.

They have a two pronged action plan--

1)-Cleaning and recycling of plastic waste ( which grew exponentially at the aftermath of Umpun as almost every relief material coming from the cities were wrapped in plastic).
2)- Plantation of saplings ( as an uncountable number trees have been uprooted during the storm).

Staying true to the philosphy of 'Skillful effort' in these times of apparent ease, the team of volunteers under the aegis of Kanaknagar SD Institution and Pulak Roy Chowdhury has inititiated the process by conducting a plastic cleaning drive on 14-15 June in Bankra and Rupamari villages ( Read the report here). In continuation of that effort, Pulak Babu's army conducted another drive over 27-28 June in Sandelerbil village. This time their goal was to achieve the following:

• Plantation of 215 saplings in Sandelerbil
• Placing of 50 plastic-only dustbins in different locations in the village
• Bring back the plastic waste to a recycling unit in Kolkata that was collected during 14-15 June
• Distribution of wellingtons/gum boots and rain-coats among the volunteers of Sandelerbil 

3. List of volunteers enegaged in 27-28 June programme

Paltan, Prabir, Biplab, Aniruddha, Safina, Mallika, Kunal, Suman, Bikash, Revas, Jyotirmoy, Manotosh, Ashoke, Yasin, Mahadeb, Dinesh, Mahitosh, Aniket, Pushpita, Subham, Sayan, Sudip, Ranadeep, Subrata, Anindya, Dipankar, Rivusoumya, Ribhu, Diptyesh, Avijit, Prasenjit, Bishnu, Maroona and Pulak. 

4. Daywise Description of Work (27-28-29 June) 

Day 1- 27 June

It was a cloudy morning and everyone knew it would rain. 13 volunteers, coming from different parts of the city maintained their rendezvous and reached Sandelerbil by noon. Upon reaching Kanaknagar Shristidhar Institution ( which was to become our relocated base camp), they were welcomed by their commander-in-chief Sri Pulak Roy Chowdhury himself. Over lunch boys and girls of Hingalganj and Kolkata mingled and one could see the light of  pure joy surfacing, glistening on each face, like it did everytime they came together and worked hand in hand. It was a joy not of bravery, nor of strength, nor of a weekend gateaway, but of a new inclusiveness. After a brief post-lunch rest, the team gathered in the playground across the school and soon divided into small units. Their immediate task was to prepare ground where saplings would be planted the next morning and place 'sapling protector fencing net' accordingly.

The courtyard of Kanaknagar SD Institution (HS). Photo- Subham Paul

Team gathers and discuss strategy. Sri Pulak Roy Chowdhury explaining the plan of action for the next two days. Photo- Bishnu Das

A section of the protected piece of land where saplings would be planted the next morning. Photo- Bishnu Das

In the evening, the team gathered once again in the common room of the school and had another strategy meeting ( while munching Muri) for the next day. This meeting was followed by a session of music and creativity. Each of the volunteers either sang a song, recited a poem, or played an instrument. Inside the room, the schisms of the society had no chance to surface as fellowship prevailed.

Team meeting over Muri. Photo-Anindya Mukherjee

Prabir Mandal reciting a poem. Photo- Anindya Mukherjee

Day 2- 28 June

The day started early and by 5.30 in the morning the team gathered in the school. The day began with a brief session of distribution of rain gear. 17 volunteers of Sandelerbil were equipped with rain coats and gum boots in the process. Protective ( disposable) mask and cap were also issued for each and everyone present.

Volunteer Safina Parveen receiving her rain gear pack. Photo- Bishnu Das

As soon as this session was over, the army of volunteers were seen active in the field. The team not only had a plan, but also fervently believed and vigorously acted on it. As a result, in spite of spells of torrential shower, the team managed to plant nearly 70 saplings within a few hours. The saplings planted were an assortment of Mango, Jamun ( Indian blackberry), Sapheda (Sapodilla), Bakul (Spanish cherry), Arjun, Krishnachura (delonix), and Eycalyptus.  Following are a few moments from those few hours. The images are self-explanatory and the energy is palpable.

Photo- Bishnu Das

Photo- Bishnu Das

Photo- Dipankar Sengupta

Photo- Bishnu Das

Photo- Bishnu Das

Photo- Bishnu Das

As soon as the plantation work around the ground was over, the team moved along the hospital road of Sandelerbil. A team of volunteers had already interacted with the residents along this road and had prepared a list of families who were willing to adopt and take care of the saplings thereafter. Another 20 saplings were planted and protected in the process. While some volunteers were busy planting, some others were occupied in distribution and placement of dust bins. The keepers of these dust bins were instructed to collect 'plastic waste only' while the team develops a regularized system of taking this plastic waste to a recycling centre near Kolkata.

Photo- Dipankar Sengupta

Photo-Dipankar Sengupta

 As soon as the morning's work was over, the team got divided. While, some went out bird watching, some played football. The team united again for lunch at the school. After lunch some of the volunteers busied themselves in sorting and packaging of relief material, while the rest traveled to Nabinganj Junior High School where a session of distribution of story books ( in collaboration with another NGO, along with other essentials like dry food and mosquito nets) among the students took place. All in all, it was a highly fulfilling day.

Volunteers sorting and packing essential relief material. Photo- Anindya Mukherjee

Sri Pulak Roy Chowdhury addresses the students of Nabinganj Junior High School. Photo- Anindya Mukherjee

Arrival of Sri Pulak Roy Chowdhury, Prof Maroona Murmu along with other volunteers at the Nabinganj school. Video- Anindya Mukherjee

Day 3- 30 June

In the morning, one of the key volunteers of this movement, Prof. Maroona Murmu planted a sapling (wood apple) celebrating the resistance of Phulo Murmu and Jhano Murmu along with their brothers Sidho Murmu, Kanhu Murmu, Chand Murmu and Bhairo Murmu in the Santal Hul- the first national movement for independence in India.

Dr. Maroona Murmu planting sapling of an wood apple commemorating Santal Hul Photo- Bishnu Das

Anindya Mukherjee being helped by Sri Pulak Roy Chowdhury in planting a mango sapling within the school courtyard.  Three such saplings was planted in hope that perhaps one day they will  grow and bear fruit  to add to the Mid-Day meals of the students of Kanaknagar SD Institution.  Photo- Bishnu Das

Then it was time for loading and carrying the plastic waste collected during the cleaning drive of 14-15 June back to a recycling unit in Kolkata. There were 28 sacks full of plastic waste ( approximately 200+kilos) waiting at the basement of the cyclone shelter of Sandelerbil all these days and finally they were off to Kolkata for good.

One of the volunteers went in the truck and made sure that it was handed over to Subhankar Sardar, one of the students of Prof. Sipra Mukherjee. Subhankar has been active in protection and conservation  of the East Kolkata Wetlands. He along with his friends work in close contact with the families involved in plastic waste recycling and management. 18 out 28 of the sacks that we had previously collected were found to be suitable for immediate recycling. The rest of the 10 sacks were taken to nearby waste disposal ground of Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

Subhankar Sarkar

Thus our 3 days of team endeavour in HIngalganj was over. Something was attempted and something was achieved. We have learnt more in the process. And this of course is not an end. This is just the beginning of a long term pledge to build a plastic-free, green and sustainable Hingalganj.

A Post-Umpun Plastic Cleaning Drive in Hingalganj

A Plastic Cleaning Drive in Hingalganj- An initiative by Kanaknagar Shristidhar Institution

'We are in the same boat brother'. This photo represents the team's spirit and philosphy, both literally and metaphorically. Here you can see the team of volunteers returning from Rupmari after cleaning of the river bank and market area on 15th June, 2020.  

An appeal to the readers of this blog: Click on the images to enlarge. You can use the images for personal study. If you wish to re-publish any of the images from this blog we hope that you will give due credit to this website. 

Background

Right from the very night of 20th May, 2020, when the Super Cyclone Umpun ravaged and razed the southern aspects of West Bengal, a team of dedicated volunteers united spontaneously under the able and visionary leadership of  Sri Pulak Roy Chowdhury, Headmaster of Kanaknagar Shristidhar Institution. Since that night, for the next 25 days, this team of volunteers has been working relentlessly without taking a single day off. Their dream was to bring back normalcy and sustainability to the beautiful yet delicate Hingalganj.

They strictly followed a system of field survey that comprised collection and analysis of data and identification of  location-wise need. As a result, they could prepare a village to village list of the actual needy and their immediate requirements. Following this approach, by 14th June, 2020, the team had been able to reach out to 5300 people in distress and had catered them with not only essential humanitarian aids like, food, materials for basic survival, emergency medicine, but also addressed vital issues of local students and pregnant mothers. It was during this period, that some of us got involved with the volunteer army led by Pulak Babu and immediately (and gladly) became a part of the force. You can read about our first trip to Hingalganj here .

Inception

It was during the culmination phase of the relief and restoration works, that the team identified another impending danger lurking on the riverbanks and flooded fields of Hingalganj- 'Plastic'! The aftermath of Cyclone Umpun brought in an immediate and massive amount of humanitarian aid to Sundarban and Hingalganj areas. While this spontaneous and extremely generous gesture by the fellow citizens of urban and rural Bengal was heartwarming, all of sudden, a huge amount of additional plastic waste arrived at the scene as part of packaging material. Plastic bags have become a be-all and end-all for every customer. Oblivious to the after effects, one is easily swayed away by the benefits it offers, such as convenience, flexibility, lightness, durability, water-resistance etc. On one hand, plastic bags have made our life easier and on the other hand, it has led to serious environmental damage.

We realized this sudden dump of megatons of plastic was only going to aggravate the already existing threat to the extremely fragile estuarine morphodynamics of Sundarban-Hingalganj. We decided to launch a series of plastic cleaning drive before the onset of monsoon and agreed on the dates and target areas for the maiden venture. We chose two village centers for the inaugural phase of cleaning on the basis of survey and they were Rupmari Ghat/Bazar and Bankra. We decided to clean Rupmari on 15th and Bankra on 16th of June consecutively. We also realized that a bigger team of volunteers would be benificial for this particular mission. In accordance to that, we created a poster and an appeal inviting volunteers and was circulated through the circle of friends and personal contacts. Within a few days a team of 18 volunteers from Kolkata and suburbs could be formed. This band of 18 were joined by another 22 in Hingalganj and together we became a strong team of 40.

A couple of photos from the survey team that identified the immediate need for a cleaning initiative

Poster created for the Plastic Cleaning Drive

The Team

Pulak Roy Chowdhury, Himangshu Debnath, Prof. Maroona Murmu, Dr. Kallol Das, Bishnu Das, Prabir Mandal, Paltan Mandal, Biplab Mandal, Bikash Mandal, Suman Chakrabarty, Kunal Mandal, Jyotirmoy Mandal, Yasin Sardar, Safina Parvin, Mallika Mukherjee, Aniruddha Mandal, Revas Mandal, Tapas Deb, Nilay Chakrabarty, Swati Basu, Tapas Kangsabanik, Aloke Das, Ashish Chanda, Rivusoumya Das, Aniket Mitra, Pushpita Polley, Sangita Mukherjee, Ananda Mukherjee, Anindya Mukherjee, Subham Paul, Supratim Mukherjee, Pritam Das Sharma, Avijit Ghosh, Prasenjit Datta. This team was further fortified by the village cleaning crew Manotosh, Ashoke, Mahadeb, Dinesh and Mahitosh.  

The team poses for a group photo at the courtyard of  Kanaknagar SD Institution before they leave for Rupmari on the 15th June morning. 

Pre- Programme Instructions to Volunteers
The following set of instructions were circulated among all the volunteers before the programme began. This was written in Bengali and is given below as a model of common reference for future users.

ভলান্টিয়ার গাইডলাইন

প্লাস্টিকমুক্ত হিঙ্গলগঞ্জ অভিযানে যোগ দেওয়া সকল সক্রিয় সৈনিককে স্বাগত জানাই। কতগুলি সরল নির্দেশ আমরা সকলে এই দু-দিন মেনে চলব। প্রত্যেক সৈনিককে এই নির্দেশাবলীর প্রতিটি বিষয় পড়ার এবং যথাসম্ভব মেনে চলার অনুরোধ করা হচ্ছে।

নির্দেশাবলীঃ

১- ওয়ার্কিং গ্লাভস, প্রোটেক্টিভ অ্যাপ্রন, মাস্ক, গারবেজ কালেকশনের বস্তা এবং প্রোটেক্টিভ ক্যাপ আমাদের বেসক্যাম্পে থাকবে। দিনের কাজ শুরুর আগে প্রত্যেকের দ্বায়িত্ব নিজের জিনিষগুলি সংগ্রহ করা।

২- গ্লাভস এবং অ্যাপ্রন এই দুটিই ওয়াশেবল এবং একাধিকবার ব্যবহারযোগ্য। তাই প্রথমদিন কাজের শেষে সেগুলি সাবানে ধুয়ে, নিজ দ্বায়িত্বে পরদিন আবার ব্যবহার করবেন।

৩- মাস্ক এবং প্রোটেক্টিভ ক্যাপ প্রথম দিনের কাজের পর বেসক্যাম্পে নির্দিস্ট স্থানে জমা করা হবে এবং দ্বিতীয় দিন নতুন সেট নিজেদের মনে করে নিয়ে নিতে হবে।

৪- কাজ করার সময় অবশ্যই গ্লাভস পরবেন।

৫- হাওয়াই চটি কিংবা খালি পায়ে কাজ করবেন না।

৬- হালকা রঙের জামা পরে কাজ করলে গরম কম লাগবে।

৭- ইনজেকশন সিরিঞ্জ, সূচ ইত্যাদিতে হাত দেবেন না। জায়গাটিকে চিহ্নিত করে আপনার দলের বাকিদের সঙ্গে পরামর্শ করে সিদ্ধান্ত নেবেন।

৮- অন্তত দুজনের একটা করে জুটি বানিয়ে কাজ করবেন। একা কোথাও যাবেন না।

৯- মৃত কিংবা আহত কোন প্রাণীর গায়ে হাত দেবেন না।

১০- নদীর পাড়ে কাজের সময় জোয়ার-ভাটার খেয়াল রাখতে হবে।

১১- নিজেরা কাজের ফাঁকে মাঝেমধ্যে কিছু খাবার এবং জল অবশ্যই খাবেন। হিট-এক্সার্সন, ডিহাইড্রেসন এর কথা মাথায় রেখে চলবেন। মাঝেমধ্যে বিশ্রাম নিয়ে আবার কাজ করবেন।

১২- একা কেউ খুব ভারী কিছু তোলার চেষ্টা করবেন না।সেরকম কিছু করা একান্ত প্রয়োজন হলে দলের সাহায্য নিন।

১৩- খাঁড়ি অঞ্চলে কাজের সময় গাছের শিকড়, শ্বাস মূল, ভাঙা ডালপালা, ভাঙা ইটের টুকরো ইত্যাদির কথা মাথায় রাখবেন।

১৪- নদীর পাড়ের মাটি পিছল এবং স্থান বিশেষে পা গভীরে বসে যেতে পারে। আপনার দলের অভিজ্ঞ সৈনিকদের পরামর্শ মত কাজ করবেন।

১৫- কালভার্ট এর তলায় কিংবা বড় ড্রেনপাইপের ভিতরে ঢুকবেন না।

১৬- কোভিড-১৯ এর কথা মাথায় রেখে গ্রামের মধ্যে কাজ করার সময় অলি-গলির মধ্যে কিংবা কারও ঘরে প্রবেশ করবেন না।

১৭- কলকাতা থেকে আসা ভলান্টিয়ারদের থাকার ব্যবস্থা স্যান্ডেলের বিল গ্রামের সাইক্লোন শেলটারে। এখানে পরিষ্কার টয়লেট-স্নানঘর রয়েছে। বিদ্যুত নেই। ভলান্টিয়ারদের জন্য পানীয় জল এখানে মজুত আছে। মোবাইলের জন্য পাওয়ার ব্যাংক আনতে পারেন। শোবার ব্যবস্থা এই সাইক্লোন শেল্টারের ঘরে। মাটিতে পলিথিন চাদর বিছনো রয়েছে। আপনি চাইলে অতিরিক্ত ক্যাম্পিং ম্যাট আনতে পারেন। এছাড়া এক-দুই রাত ঘরের বাইরে কাটানোর মত অত্যাবশ্যক কিন্তু ন্যুনতম জিনিষপত্র আনতে ভুলবেন না। বাড়িতে আপনি নিজে যদি কোন ওষুধ রোজ খেয়ে থাকেন, তবে সেই ওষুধ সঙ্গে আনতে ভুলবেন না। একটা টর্চ থাকলে মন্দ হয় না। ওডোমস জাতীয় মশা তাড়ানোর মলম সঙ্গে রাখতে পারেন। তবে কলকাতার থেকে মশার উপদ্রব এই সাইক্লোন শেলটার অঞ্চলে বেশ কম। সঙ্গে একটা করে চা খাবার কাপ আনতে পারলে ভাল হয়।

কনকনগর সৃষ্টিধর ইনস্টিটিউসনের সক্রিয় ভলান্টিয়ার বাহিনীর পক্ষ থেকে সকলকে আন্তরিক ধন্যবাদ।

The Programme

Day 1 ( 14th June): 

The volunteers from Kolkata and suburbs met in different rendezvous points and then drove to Hingalganj. After arrival at the Kanaknagar SD Institution, the Kolkata volunteers were delighted to join an ongoing programme there. At that time, a distribution of solar lights among Madhyamik examinees of the school was under progress. This was soon followed by a distribution of nutritional food among pregnant ladies of Sandeler Bill village and the vicinity. The Kolkata volunteers were thrilled and thankful to be a part of this whole process. In the evening, the team sat down together and Sri Pulak Roy Chowdhury shared his experiences from the past few weeks of working across Hingalganj and projected his vision of a greener, better, self-reliant Hingalganj. The team also discussed and finalized the action plans for the next two days.

Sri Pulak Roy Chowdhury (in blue shirt on the left) addresses the patient and queued up villagers in front of the school entrance. 

Day 2 (15th June):

In the morning, the team gathered in the school compund once again and after a quick cleaning of the school perimeters, left directly to Rupmari Ferry Ghat on the river Goureshwar.

Upon reaching the Ferry Ghat, while waiting for the boat to arrive, the volunteers started cleaning the East side of the river, on the adjacent area of the jetty. Then the team went across the river and reached the Rupmari Bazar, i.e. the Western banks of river Goureshwar. The team now split in several small units. Each of the small unit was instructed to collect by practising the 'segregation at source' method. Each unit comprised 2-3 members and they focused on collecting either PET bottles or plastic bags in their collection sacks. Rupmari Ghat and Bazar being one of the epicentres of major relief material distrbution, the plastic waste situation was really perturbing. The following are a few images of ongoing cleaning operation at Rupmari.

Members of the team, with Sri Pulak Roy Chowdhury at the helm, engaged in conversations with locals and shopkeepers of Rupamari and tried to convey the problem of plastic pollution to each and everyone they met. The locals seemed to be genuinely interested in improving the situation and promised to work together if alternative ways of waste disposal is made available there. After completion of work at Rupmari, the team gathered all the collection bags, sealed them and loaded them on the ferry and started their return journey to base camp. After a refreshing shower at base camp and a delicious lunch at the school kitchen, the team resorted to the breezy roof of the base camp ( the cyclone shelter of Sandeler Bill village) and relaxed.

Photo: Rivusoumya das

Day 3 (16th June): 

Day 3 began with an early breakfast of Muri-Alur Tarkari at the school. On this day, the team focused their attention on the closeby Bankra village. Upon reaching the village, the team divided in two separate bodies and started their cleaning work from the Bankra ground in front of the Kazi Nazrul school. Soon, the teams took two separate ways through meandering village path and covered the entire Bankra village in a circle. Once again, the team while collecting, did segregation at source and mainly picked up PET bottles and plastic bags/wraps. A few images from our cleaning programme at Bankra is placed below:

During that day's operation, Prabir Mandal kept on announcing the team's purpose and also spoke about the perils of plastic use in general. We could see that the team's uniform and disciplined approach was making an impact on the locals to some extent. Many of the residents came forward and joined hands and expressed their solidarity in future projects such as this one.

At the end of the day, we returned to our base camp once again and segregated the cumulative collection of plastic waste. After some weighing and calculating, we realized that we had collected 14 bags of PET bottles ( each bag weighing 5 kilos in average) and 14 bags of Plastic packing material ( each bags weighing 15 kilos in average).

We decided to store this collection in our base camp for the time being as we have plans to return to Hingalganj very soon for a follow up cleaning drive. After the completion of the second cleaning programme we will bring the garbage together to Kolkata and hand it over to a recycling unit for its last rites.

Conclusion:

We know that such cleaning programmes, no matter how frequently done, is not going to solve the problem. Keeping that in mind, we are now in the process of developing a sustainable programme that will truly make Hingalganj green, again. The following image, in the writer of this report's mind, remains the symbolic highlight of this Plastic Cleaning drive by Kanaknagar SD Institution.

In this photo we see a city volunteer providing anchor (by holding hands) to a Hingalganj volunteer while the latter leans forward to pick up plastic from a pond. True spirit of camaraderie in action! We feel certain that we are going to see many more such actions of team work and selfless service to the community in near future in Team Hingalganj.

Note:

1. We shall post an up-to-date statement of accounts here in this blog in the next few days.
2. We shall also share our vision regarding a clean and green Hingalganj. 

Hingalganj- What Money Will Not Buy

Hingalganj- What Money Will Not Buy
Prof. Sipra Mukherjee*

Villagers queue up to receive essential relief materials in Santra Para village 

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought the world to its knees. And for the poor of Bengal, the extended lockdown and then the Amphan cyclone have together dealt a very severe blow. But in the wake of the horrendous cyclone, the experience of these teams bringing relief and health care to the villages further down the river from Hingalgunj, speaks of another finding - that another silent epidemic is sweeping through rural Bengal- as silent as the virus and as deadly in the way it saps strength and will. Stress and depression. The medical team that visited Hingalgunj and the remote villages of Rupmari, Kalitala, Chhoto Sahebkhali had gone equipped with the medicines for the usual suspects that plague human beings after a natural disaster: medicines for diarrhoea, fever, wounds, pains, skin diseases. All of these were needed, but the overwhelming need was found to be for anti-depressants.

I had, on first hearing, been taken aback at this overwhelming need for anti-depressants. At the very next moment, the ‘only to be expected’ nature of the situation came home to me. Yet most of us, outsiders all, had been taken unawares in varying degrees. Of course, the very next moment we had all realised the inevitability and naturalness of the situation. The minds and bodies of these people had been put to immense stress over the past 2 months. The sudden lockdown of the country left these marginalised people confronted with an unknowable future. With family members stuck elsewhere, without any source of income, these families were totally unprepared for this extended lockdown. And then came the cyclone and swept away what little they had.

Dr. Kallol Das prescribing medicines during a medical camp at Bainara village, Rupmari

The uncertainty of the sudden lockdown that they had no means of controlling, and then the violence of the cyclone. In the face of an unknown and unknowable future, the mind baulks, the stress is unmanageable. Why, then, the surprise? Why is it that ‘depression’, ‘stress’ are words that we associate in our minds with urban life? Is there really any truth in the belief that these are urban problems, related to lifestyle issues which the rich can afford to have? Or is the reality that depression and stress are issues that only the rich can afford to treat?

There is a certain loss of agency connected with depression and stress. The rationale usually believed to lie behind urban depression is a loss of power, a sensing of vulnerability that the individual cannot cope with, - and hence a feeling of hopelessness and futility that leads to depression. It is clear from the first-hand experience of my friends who are working on the ground, however, that this is a myth.

But the point of my writing today is not just that I have realised the falseness of an earlier subconscious belief in urban depression. It is, rather, the realisation that the very narratives generally used for the marginalised are false. The terms that are used to describe the poor: ‘vulnerable’, ‘weak’, ‘marginalised’, ‘powerless’,- are all terms coined from the perspective of the mainstream, the more powerful sections of society. While they all point to some reality and truth, these words all lead us to think about this section in one way: as victims. A victim by definition is one without any agency: passive, only present at the receiving end to absorb whatever pain or pleasure is meted out to them. For victims, it follows then, the possibility of depression is erased. For how can a person who is already without agency and power lose what s/he did not have in the first place?

There is obviously a falseness in this assumption of passivity and victimhood. For if the poor villagers of these villages believed themselves anyway to be always on the brink of destruction and extinction, they would not have been stressed or felt at a loss in the current scenario. It is this extreme situation that has made them feel a loss of agency. There must have been, consequently, an agency they did have. And in the past weeks, post the unplanned lockdown, the thousands of migrant workers have shown that agency when they took the conscious, superhuman, indeed heroic decision to walk home. It is, indeed, stupid of the mainstream to think of the poor as not having agency. When a large part of their lives is lived forsaken by law, basic facilities, and all that citizenship promises us, the marginalised could not have continued to live and work if they did not feel any agency. It is not possible to live in the absence of agency. We are overtaken by depression.

Villagers of Santra Para, Chhoto Shabekhali, comes to meet the volunteers of Kanaknagar SD Institution on bank of river Kalindi

The power of the economically poor is undoubtedly less than the power of the economically rich in the given scenario, but there is power. In fact, as many have argued in this never-before-seen locked down situation, if the rural belt of India decides to stay within its own periphery, and migrant workers decide to stay back in their homes, it is the allegedly powerful who will be left without food, houses and roads. Life will be difficult for the economically poor, but life will be impossible for the economically rich. For money will not buy.

It is in this context that Pulak Roy Chowdhury’s work becomes significant. Pulak, who is spearheading the Hingalgunj effort, joined Kanaknagar S. D. Institution school at Hingagunj in 2014. He has been working here for the last six years, devoting mind and body and soul to the holistic development of his students and their space. With the lockdown, however, Pulak has found his workload and area increased manifold- and has had to shift his priorities- for it is the very basic need of food and now, post-Amphan,- the needs of food, shelter and health that need addressing. Prior to the relief, immediately post-Amphan, Pulak and his friend Simanto, motivated their students and carried out surveys in the affected villages. What were their needs? What precise difficulties were being faced by them? This was unlike the usual narratives that treat the villager as passive, victimised and without agency, to heap relief upon, to not know what is best for him/ her, to be at the receiving end of the more powerful, the more knowledgeable city-dwellers. Of the huge team that Pulak is attempting to get together, I know of only the few who have reached there with Anindya: the team of doctors led by Dr Kallol (along with Dr. Ashish Kundu and Dr. Suvashish Mukherjee) and the team made up of the dynamic Subrata, Rivusoumya, Sourav, Tapas, Ribhu, Diptesh, and Ananda . Along with the 'Volunteer Army' of Kanaknagar SD Institution, in the forefront of which are Prabir, Suman, Paltan, Biplab and Aniruddha; they have completed two trips, and are gearing up for the 3rd trip this coming Sunday (14th June 2020). As Anindya wrote in the first blog here, almost with foresight: this will not be a one-time effort. Arriving with relief and doctors, Pulak’s connection with Anindya has been one of those fortunate coincidences that life sometimes rewards us with.


Standing at a historical juncture as we are now, it is imperative that we recognise the agency that those we call the ‘marginalised’ and ‘vulnerable' possess. If we see them as victims, we are myopic. For if victims, then the idea of heroes becomes distant, and all our food-growers, house-makers and city-builders are viewed as victims, will-be martyrs, with neither significant action nor direction. Nothing can be further from the truth.

Sri Pulak Roychowdhury engaged in conversation with villagers of Amberia

*Sipra Mukherjee is a Professor at the Department of English, West Bengal State University and one of key members of the Hingalganj initiative.

Free Medical Camps in Santra Para and Bainara Villages of Hingalganj

In this report we have covered:

1. Introduction
2. A brief report on the Medical Camps by Dr. Kallol Das
3. List of registered patients in the two villages we visited
4. List of medicines and other items used during the camps
5. Account Statement of the Medical Camps

1. Introduction

On 6th of June, 2020, we were back again in Hingalganj, this time with the specific task of conducting emergecy medical camps in two villages. In this trip, the team from Kolkata comprised Dr. Ashish Kundu, Dr. Suvashis Mukherjee, Dr. Kallol Das, Rivu, Diptesh, Subrata, Dipon and Anindya, Abhijit and Prasenjit. Upon reaching Kanaknagar SD Institution, we were greeted with the heartwarming smile of Revas Da and soon we were served a delicious hot lunch cooked with the fresh vegetables picked from the organic garden of the school. By the time we had finished our lunch, we were joined by Sri Pulak Roychowdhury (Headmaster of the school and leader of the whole operation), Prof. Maroona Murmu (Associate Professor of History, Jadavpur University) and Himangshu Debnath (Teacher of English, Kadambagachi High School). Along with an army of volunteers (consisting mainly of ex-students of the school), this team have been working relentlessly, everyday, since the cyclone had struck. They were just returning after completeing yet another arduous session of emergency food (and other essentials) distribution to a rather remotely located habitation. From the very beginning of our association, we had felt privileged to be part of this passionately dedicated team and in the very first hour of this second visit to Hingalganj, we realized that we had already become part of the Kanaknagar SD Institution family. Within an hour, the whole team was ready to start the second half of the day, i.e. Medical Camp at Santra Para village of Chhoto Shebkhali. In section 2 of this report Dr. Kallol Das has summarized the activities of 6th and 7th June, 2020. We want to thank our supporters once again for their spontaneous and timely donations. Without them this would not have been realized.

A section of Kanaknagar SD Institution 

Our heores. From Left to Right: Dr. Kallol Das, Dr. Ashish Kundu, Dr. Suvashis Mukherjee

Red Stars indicate the two sites where the Medical Camps were conducted. The Red triangle shows approximate location of our Base Camp in Sandeler Bil

2. Medical Camps organized by Kanaknagar SD Institution, at Sandeler Bil, Hingalganj area- A Report by Dr. Kallol Das

On 6th and 7th of June, 2020, two medical camps were organized by the Kanaknagar SD Institution. The camp sites ( Santra Para and Bainara) were selected by the volunteer force of the said institution. From our own experience here in Hingalganj, we knew there were villages here that were absolutely devastated by recent Amphun Cyclone and people have lost almost everything, including shelters and all hope to revive. Here various organizations and groups are bringing reliefs in the form of ration provisions, and other necessary items (torch, mosquito nets etc). These in turn are efficiently distributed to the villagers under the leadership of Shri Pulak Roychowdhury, the Headmaster of the Institution through his strong team of sincere and hardworking volunteers, the ex-students of this school which in itself is a unique example. However, during a joint relief work with his team last weekend, we felt the necessity of conducting medical camps in two villages to begin with, as, after the cyclone and consequent extensive (and prolonged) water logging, the villagers are suffering from various ailments for their present unhygienic lifestyle and complete uncertainty in future.

I did a physical survey in two worst affected villages, Santra, Choto Sahebkhali and Bainara, near Rupmari on 2^nd June with a local volunteer, Prabir Mandal and assured about a medical camp as early as possible. Local volunteers like Prabir and Biplab took the task of prior registration of the patients to be seen to avoid any chaos and to reach the medical aid to the people in actual need of immediate treatment. We had an idea of general trends of symptoms & diseases from our previous experience of flood/cyclone relief works. We also got the report of other medical teams who served in cyclone affected zones in nearby villages recently.

The Medical Camps were organized within a preparation time of three days and we revisited the area on 6^th June, with a team of doctors from Kolkata. Our Medical team comprised three senior doctors, Dr. Asish Kundu, Dr. Suvashis Mukherjee, Dr. Kallol Das and few experienced persons, Mr. Anindya Mukherjee, Mr. Subrata Bhattacharya, Mr. Ribhu Kundu & Mr. Diptesh Bhattacharya to dispense medicines.All medicines were purchased by us and group wise systematically packed from Kolkata.

Day 1 (6^th June, 2020): First Camp: Vill. Santra, Chhoto Sahebkhali

We started from Kolkata in morning and after reaching our base camp at Sandeler Bil Cyclone Shelter, prepared ourselves with all logistics to be transported to Choto Sahebkhali Island. The entire team reached Amberia jetty by motor van and crossed river Ichhamoti by a motor boat to the site, a small courtyard of a villager by the western bank of river Kalindi.

Our boat leaving Amberia Nodi Ghat for Chhoto Sahebkhali island

Sri Pulak Roychowdhury (right, in blue shirt) with the team of doctors and other volunteers

The site of the Medical Camp in Santra Para

Here the total no. patients registered was 105, but in the end, we attended 112 patients, out of which females were 71, males- 32 and 8 nos. of children below the age 12 yrs.  There were three stations for three doctors and a separate area for dispensing and explaining the medicines to the patients.

Majority of patients complained of itching and skin rashes in different areas of the body due to repeated exposure to saline water that flooded their mud huts. Loosing virtually every domestic possessions, these poorest people took temporary shelters of bamboo and polythene sheet on the embankments. Though our main focus was on the acute diseases of recent onset due to Cyclone and consequent flood,  many of them came with chronic ailments like hyperacidity, heart burn, flatulence, anorexia etc. and we could not refuse treating them realizing that a tremendous stress factor made them worse now.

Accidental injuries causing cuts, lacerations and sprains were another area of concern. These were due to either their fall during high velocity of flood water rushing in or mud huts collapsed on themselves. Full course of antibiotics, adequate pain killers, antiseptic dressing and inj. Tetanus toxoid were given to them to avoid further complications.

Among pediatric population worm infestation is very common and was treated with anti-helminthic drugs. They are also the victims of common cough and cold and were treated accordingly. Not surprisingly, a significant majority of middle aged & elderly people attended the clinic with Somatisation problems and Obsessive Compulsive disorder who presented with variety of vague symptoms of no clinical significance, arising mainly from severe stress they sustained during the whole episode of Amphun Cyclone and consequent flood. They were properly counselled, offered symptomatic treatment and some anti-stress medicines for the time being till the overall situation will improve in future to patch up their mental wounds. We concluded our first day camp at around 5.30 pm and returned to our base camp by late evening.

Day 2 (7^th June, 2020): Second Camp, Vill. Bainara, Rupmari .

The transit time of today’s campsite was a bit longer and we took nearly two hours to reach our preselected medical camp in a primary school at Bainara, one of the worst affected area near Rupmari. Starting at 8 am from base camp, we crossed river Goureswar to reach Rupmari and reached Maity Para by auto with all our medicines at about 10 am. From there entire load were ferried to the school along a broken concrete road and narrow electric pole bridges.

Red circle- second Medical Camp site, Red Arrow- crossing point of Goureswar River, Red Triangle-our BC

Rupmari Ghat

Approaching our camp site in Bainara

Volunteers ferrying loads to camp site

The dam that would be breached

Total no. of registered patients was 116 in this spot out of which 70 people turned up including 27 male, 34 females and 9 kids. Like previous site, widespread skin rash with itching was the principal ailments in this region also, which is attributed to continuous exposure to saline water to save all their properties from shattered mud-huts. 

Acidity, flatulence, heartburn and loss of appetite were next in the list affecting mostly the females. Few villagers came with chronic dry cough & some with productive cough who were treated accordingly. Worm infestation was predominant among the kids at Bainara who attended the clinic. We came across good no. of patients with diarrhea and dysentery at Bainara which could be due to poor quality of food and drinking water. They were given proper medicines and electrolyte supplements and advised about adequate hydration and quality of drinking water. We also treated couple of conjunctivitis patients with eye drops, pain killers and advised about eye care. Two cases came with open wounds and received antibiotics, tetanus toxoid and sterile dressing. Last but not the least, many patients came with different types of stress related disorders and expressed their non-specific symptoms pointing towards somatization. Adequate counselling and stress relieving medicine were given to them along with symptomatic relief.

Other Observation

As this was a Sunday, we came across many other relief teams (mostly from Kolkata and around), heavily crowding in different areas around our Bainara camp site. I am sure that all these generous relief will be of great help to these ill-fated villagers but that reduced the no. patients in medical camp. It is obvious that food is top priority over medicines at this acute crisis. I feel that, it is better to avoid the weekends for launching a successful medical camp, which will cater a greater number of beneficiary in the locality. 

-Dr. Kallol Das  

3-List of Registered Patients

Name of Village:

Santra Para (Chhoto Sahebkhali), Hingalganj Date: 6^th June, 2020

Names of Doctors:

Dr. Ashish Kundu, MD

Dr. Subhashish Mukherjee, MS

Dr. Kallol Das, MS, FRCS

Names of other volunteers involved in this camp:

Prabir, Paltan, Aniruddha, Biplab, Suman, Jyotirmoy, Subrata, Bikash, Anindya, Rivu, Diptesh, Dipon, Abhijit, Prasenjit, Prof. Maroona Murmu, Himangshu, Pulak Roychowdhury. Registration done and list prepared by Prabir Mandal

Registered Patients at Santra Para Village:

·         Total patients-105

·         Female-67

·         Male-30

·         Kids (under 12)- 8

Sl. No.	Name	Age	Sex
1	Jharna Mandal	42	F
2	Sumita Houli	NA*	M
3	Malati Houli	NA*	F
4	Bibhuti Gayen	NA*	M
5	Sandhya Baidya	NA*	F
6	Pramila Mandal	44	F
7	Chandra Gayen	40	F
8	Tripti Mandal	11	F
9	Shashanka Sarkar	NA*	M
10	Paritosh Mandal	50	M
11	Purnima Houli	32	F
12	Basanti Houli	45	F
13	Lalita Gayen	60	F
14	Suparna Gayen	25	F
15	Haripada Houli	65	M
16	Purnima Acharya	40	F
17	Maynamati Mandal	62	F
18	Pramila Gayen	60	F
19	Mamata Pramanik	55	F
20	Sabita Mandal	55	F
21	Prasenjit Gayen	30	M
22	Tulsi Gayen	55	F
23	Bhushan Gayen	47	M
24	Chandrima Gayen	27	F
25	Sarojini Houli	55	F
26	Anik Mandal	2+	M
27	Sabitri Gayen	46	F
28	Sandhya Mandal	29	F
29	Krishna Houli	13	F
30	Mamata Houli	35	F
31	Deba Houli	6	F
32	Shanti Houli	52	F
33	Keshab Mandal	65	M
34	Pratima Mandal	33	F
35	Kamalesh Baidya	34	M
36	Asit Houli	52	M
37	Nisha Gayen	3+	F
38	Sumita Ghoshal	5	F
39	Padma Ghoshal	45	F
40	Shilpi Mandal	25	F
41	Sathi Gayen	50	F
42	Gour Houli	56	M
43	Jagadish Gayen	26	M
44	Pramila Mandal	58	F
45	Kanika Baidya	32	F
46	Sandhya Gayen	37	F
47	Bapan Mandal	25	M
48	Gopal Gayen	44	M
49	Sagarika Gayen	19	F
50	Rajdip Gayen	4	M
51	Bithika Mistry	56	F
52	Basudeb Houli	45	M
53	Basanti Gayen	58	F
54	Malina Gayen	40	F
55	Mallika Das	29	F
56	Sudha Mandal	37	F
57	Shyam Mandal	4+	M
58	Sudhangshu Mandal	70	M
59	Supiya Houli	20	F
60	Kaberi Houli	20	F
61	Kalyani Houli	80	F
62	Arati Baidya	35	F
63	Sundari Baidya	60	F
64	Rahul Mandal	18	M
65	Uttara Mandal	34	F
66	Sankhya Acharya	56	M
67	Manorama Baidya	42	F
68	Prashanta Mandal	42	M
69	Laxmi Gayen	42	F
70	Abhi Mandal	12	M
71	Sonali Gayen	6	F
72	Arati Gayen	30	F
73	Mita Mandal	25	F
74	Kabita Mandal	50	F
75	Swapan Sarkar	38	M
76	Nirmal Mandal	75	M
77	Tarun Kumar Houli	40	M
78	Sanjit Mandal	33	M
79	Rajesh Gayen	21	M
80	Indrajit Gayen	38	M
81	Bhabesh Mandal	34	M
82	Banabibi Gayen	45	F
83	Prasenjit Mandal	17	M
84	Mrinal Houli	25	M
85	Soma Gayen	25	F
86	Uttara Gayen	49	F
87	Bishakha Gayen	49	F
88	Chabi Gayen	53	F
89	Mrityunjay Gayen	31	M
90	Abha Sarkar	60	F
91	Tapas Gayen	26	M
92	Samarendra Baidya	42	M
93	Mithurani Gayen	32	F
94	Rina Mandal	34	F
95	Renuka Houli	60	F
96	Bandana Gayen	40	F
97	Asima Gayen	40	F
98	Pampa Mandal	34	F
99	Sonali Mandal	14	F
100	Sarmila Mandal	38	F
101	Sandhya Sarkar	35	F
102	Tapati Sarkar	38	F
103	Nitai Gayen	60	M
104	Dinabandhu Houli	NA*	M
105	Santanu Mandal	NA*	M

NOTE: NA*= NOT AVAILABLE. AGE WAS NOT ENTERED/KNOWN

Name of Village:

Bainara, Rupmari, Hingalganj Date: 7^th June, 2020

Names of Doctors:

Dr. Ashish Kundu, MD

 Dr. Subhashish Mukherjee, MS

 Dr. Kallol Das, MS, FRCS

Names of other volunteers involved in this camp:

Prabir, Paltan, Aniruddha, Suman, Subrata, Anindya, Rivu, Diptesh, Dipon, Abhijit, Prasenjit. Registration done and list prepared by Prabir Mandal.

Registered Patients at Bainara Village:

·         Total patients-116

·         Female-53

·         Male-53

·         Kids (under 12)- 10

Sl. No.	Name	Age	Sex
1	Sankar Singh	32	M
2	Chittaranjan Bir	75	M
3	Kalyani Bir	60	F
4	Bhabasindhu Singha	60	M
5	Surabala Singha	45	F
6	Sneha Singha	8	F
7	Aloka Bar	37	F
8	Gouranga Dhara	45	M
9	Kanai Dhara	9+	M
10	Samir Singha	38	M
11	Bhabasindhu Mandal	30	M
12	Saradindu Mandal	10	M
13	Renuka Bar	65	F
14	Gouranga Bar	38	M
15	Sima Mandal	38	F
16	Joydeb Mandal	5	M
17	Anumati Singha	61	F
18	Tarak Dasi Dhara	60	F
19	Sabita Singha	55	F
20	Gita Mandal	55	F
21	Prasenjit Rang	21	M
22	Ganga Bar	22	F
23	Dipali Rang	39	F
24	Srimati Baidya	65	F
25	Jayanta Barman	25	M
26	Rupa Gayen	4+	F
27	Krishna Dhara	35	F
28	Sikha Dalui	29	F
29	Bina Mandal	27	F
30	Swapna Singha	10	F
31	Moumita Singha	10	F
32	Kalpana Dolui	52	F
33	Tushar Dolui	36	M
34	Anita Mallik	40	F
35	Mira Mandal	60	F
36	Shanti Ranjan Mandal	21	M
37	Bimala Sardar	60	F
38	Buddhadeb Sardar	45	M
39	Swapna Sardar	27	F
40	Saraswati Sardar	26	F
41	Baisakhi Sardar	50	F
42	Dipali Mandal	35	F
43	Maharani Sardar	45	F
44	Bimal Ghosh	55	M
45	Prembala Sardar	62	F
46	Lalita Sardar	60	F
47	Giribala Sardar	80	F
48	Sajal Sardar	17	M
49	Balai Sardar	45	M
50	Taramoni Sardar	59	F
51	Sumita Sardar	40	F
52	Gourhari Mandal	45	M
53	Laxmi Sardar	60	F
54	Gopal Mandal	50	M
55	Uttara Mandal	26	F
56	Yasomati Mandal	52	F
57	Sripada Mandal	62	M
58	Joydeep Mandal	1+	M
59	Pratima Mandal	60	F
60	Basudeb Mandal	52	M
61	Anima Mandal	50	F
62	Subrata Mandal	40	M
63	Sumitra Mandal	33	F
64	Gour Mandal	60	M
65	Piya Mandal	65	F
66	Prafulla Paik	60	M
67	Behula Mandal	60	F
68	Sagarika Mandal	NA*	F
69	Usha Sarkar	55	F
70	Rekha Mandal	16	F
71	Sabuj Mandal	16	M
72	Surajit Mandal	16	M
73	Namita Mandal	NA*	F
74	Rina Mandal	14	F
75	Ramen Mandal	56	M
76	Rita Mandal	38	F
77	Subrata Mandal	53	M
78	Niranjan Mandal	55	M
79	Yogmaya Dhara	30	F
80	Dharan Mandal	33	M
81	Suchitra Mandal	32	F
82	Niranjan Mandal	62	M
83	Nabanita Thikadar Mandal	28	F
84	Dipu Mandal	4	M
85	Rupa Dhara	30	F
86	Anima Dhara	35	F
87	Karuna Dhara	40	F
88	Shyamapada Mandal	69	M
89	Subrata Mandal	63	M
90	Sobha Sarkar	35	F
91	Sefali Sarkar	30	F
92	Biswajit Gayen	35	M
93	Nanda Das	50	M
94	Sudhangshu Mandal	69	M
95	Sulata Mandal	45	F
96	Gangadhar Mandal	73	M
97	Bishnupriya Mandal	28	F
98	Tapan Biswas	28	M
99	Tapasi Barman	37	F
100	Parimal Mandal	55	M
101	Aniruddha Mandal	24	M
102	Balai Mandal	40	M
103	Gita Mandal	45	F
104	Nakul Chaukidar	48	M
105	Gour Mandal	60	M
106	Gour Mandal	61	M
107	Mani Madhab Mondal	52	M
108	Ajit Mandal	82	M
109	Nagen Dhara	60	M
110	Sobha Mandal	51	F
111	Tumpa Paik	29	F
112	Baburam Mandal	44	M
113	Anita Paik	44	F
114	Babai Paik	5	M
115	Susmita Paik	24	F
116	Biswanath Mandal	62	M

NOTE: NA*= NOT AVAILABLE. AGE WAS NOT ENTERED/KNOWN

4- List of medicines and other items used in the camps

Anti-Biotics

1. Co-Amoxiclav
2. Ciprofloxacin
3. Amoxycilin
4. Levofloxacin
5. Ciprofloxacin-eye/ear drop

Anthelmentic

1. Albendazole+ Ivermectin 

Diarrhoea

1. Norfloxacin+Tinidazole
2. Lomotil

Antacid (PPI)

1. Omeprazole

Allergy

1. Cetirizine

Analgesic/Antipyretic

1. Paracetamol
2. Aceclofenac+Paracetamol

Microbicidal Ointment

1. Povidine-Iodine

Anti-fungal ointment

1. Clotremazole+Beclomethasone+Neomycine

Expectorant

1. Ambroxol+levosalbutamol+Guaiphenisin

Dry/Allergic Cough

1. Dextromethorphan+CP Maleate

Anti-depressant

1. Amitryptiline

Other Items carried:

Toxoid ampules+syringe

Bandage-4 inch+ 2 inch, Cotton

Povidine-Iodine solution

Gloves, Face Shields, Hand sanitizers, Head Cover, Masks
ORS

5-Account Statement of the Medical Camps (6th and 7th of June 2020)

	Name of Item	Quantity	Rate/unit	Amount paid in Rs.
1	Torch	100 pcs	56/pc	5600/
2	ORS	750 sachets	3.08/sachet	2315/
3	Medicines			12770/
4	Medicines			757/
5	Bandages, gloves, betadine sol, cotton, hand rub etc			1494/
6	Face shield	8 pcs	40/pc	320/
7	Syringes, Lomotil, Tetvac inj.			177.48/
8	Amitryptiline Tabs	3000 tabs		4128/
9	Boat on Goureshwar river			200/
10	Transport to road near Bainara			1000/
11	Transport to and from Kolkata including 1 night stay at Hingalganj (1 Xylo+ 1	2 cars	@Rs.160/hour for 40 hours	12800/
12	Transport cost (to & fro) from Sandeler Bil cyclone shelter to Amebria Nodighat on Day 1 and Rupmari Ghat on Day for 2 cars.	2 cars	@600/car	1200/
13	Boat on Kalindi River			100/
			Total	42861/

Cash in Hand before the Medical Camps: Rs. 1,25,019/

Expenses incurred for the Medical Camps: -Rs.42861/

Cash in hand after the Medical Camps: Rs. 82,158/

Thank you for reaching here, to the end of this post. We are going to post our next course of action in Hingalganj, here in this blog within the next two days. Stay tuned. :)