What havoc has the super cyclone wreaked in the life of the people of Orissa?
The plot talks about the disaster on 27th October 1999, when a super cyclone wreaked havoc in the life of people of Orissa. A dark storm had gathered in the evening and winds hit the houses violently. Heavy and continuous rain added to the misery and ancient trees got uprooted. A deadly brown sheet of water covered everything and bloated animal and human bodies floated in every direction. The houses were destroyed and the people became homeless.
How has Prashant, a teenager, been able to help the people of his village?
(CBSE SA-II, 2011)
Having witnessed devastation all around, Prashant decided to step in as the leader of his village. He gathered the youth and elders and convinced them to pressurize the merchant for rice. They were victorious in the act. He then formed groups of people and they collected branches of the trees for slow fire in order to cook the rice. Some volunteers cleaned the shelter of urine, filth, vomit and floating carcasses while others tended to the wounded and the injured. The youth task force was organized to help all the victims. When the helicopter with food packets didn’t return the next day, the children were asked to lie on sand with empty utensils on their bellies so that the passing helicopters could see and feel their trouble and drop food. The idea succeeded and the helicopter then made regular rounds of the shelter. He put up a tent for the orphaned children and worked hard for the orphans and the widows sinking deep in their grief.
How have the people of the community helped one another? What role did the women of Kalikuda play during these days?
Prashant mobilised everyone in the community so that they could help one another in the time of such a devastating disaster.
1. He noticed that a large number of children had been orphaned so he brought them together and put up a polythene sheet shelter for them.
2. Some women looked after them and the men secured food and materials for the shelter.
3. Some volunteers cleaned the mess while others tended to each other’s wounds and injuries.
4. He persuaded the women to start working in the food for work programme started by an N.G.O and organized cricket matches for the children.
Why do Prashant and other volunteers resist the plan to set up institutions for orphans and widows? What alternatives do they consider?
Prashant and other volunteers resist the plan to set up an institution for orphans and widows as they feel that in such institutions the orphaned children would grow up without love. Widowed women would suffer from loneliness. They would bear the stigma of being widows. Therefore, Prashant and others believe that children should be brought up in the families of their own community. They should be kept in families of childless widows.
Do you think Prashant is a good leader? Do you think young people can get together to help people during natural calamities?
(CBSE SA-II, 2011)
The protagonist of the story, Prashant, is definitely a courageous leader. He had the skill and wit to convince people to take steps for their own welfare and helped them come out of the tragic situation. His heart was full of love and compassion for everyone and his mind was a box full of ideas. It was for his quick wit that the helicopters did regular rounds. The most vulnerable segments that time, the widows and the orphans, were on his priority list as he knew that the devastation had not only made them lonely but also prone to exploitation.
It sets a perfect example of the ways in which young people can get together and work for the betterment of the community and the nation, at large. Especially, during times of need, they can help, guide and serve the affected community. A helping hand is all that the people need in such times to come out of grief and start afresh.
Talk about the preparedness of the community for a natural disaster. (You can talk about evacuation plans and rehabilitation, permanent safe shelters; warning systems; relief efforts; building materials to withstand cyclone/flood/earthquake i.e. safe housing; peoples’ organisation of their own rescue, the survival instinct, etc.
The nature shows its furious side every now and then in some or the other region. It can be in the form of floods, tsunamis, droughts, earthquakes etc.
The Government tries its best to help the victims at all costs. But the immediate help of the community, its vigil, preparedness, cooperation, sympathy and mutual understanding matter a lot in the initial phase.
The following points can be pondered upon:
1. Immediate steps for saving life
2. Arrangements for food, shelter and other requisite items.
3. Raising the morale and helping each other at all steps.
4. Requesting the NGO’s and other agencies for help.
5. Planning relief measures apart from the government’s initiatives as per the situation.
6. Arranging warning signals from time to time.
7. Educating the people for adopting rescue measures.
8. Thinking about temporary rehabilitation and making arrangements.
9. Providing health facilities and employment opportunities.
10. Advising people to be calm and optimistic.
11. Seeking help from the state Government and other prosperous agencies.
12. Taking the help of media and other allied agencies to reach out a wider audience for help and support