A Page From History : R.S.S.—Sponsored Assam Relief

Brave Work by B.P.S.S

The volunteers of the R.S.S.-sponsored “Bhukamp Pidit Sahayata Samiti” are doing splendid an brave work in tenaciously sticking to the task of carrying aid and relief to the sufferers of the Assam Earthquake and consequent province-wide floods. Immediately after the disaster the Samiti was formed and two hatches had already left for the stricken areas. By now more than half a dozen such batches are touring different parts of the calamity-stricken area and rendering all kinds of help, even in such remote and inaccessible areas as are yet not reached by any other relieving body including the Government.
The third batch to leave Dibrugarh consisted of nine volunteers. It headed north with 70 maunds of rice and other food-stuffs and also with medicines and other necessaries. The fourth one took with it one hundred maunds of rice and proceeded to Dhemaji side, advancing towards the worst affected area. According to latest available information they have by now advanced twenty miles beyond Dhemaji. Dhemaji side has been provided with one more batch including a doctor and a guide, and equipped with one hundred maunds of rice, other food-stuff and also medical supplies.
The batch with the biggest supplies was the one which left Dibrugarh for the Bordulani area. It is carrying with it 250 maunds of rice, pulses, kerosene oil, wheat, gur, salt, and other necessaries totaling 700 maunds, five big packages of various medicines and clothes of all types, especially for women. Two doctors and four compounders, are accompanying this batch. This is the first attempt to relieve the Bordulani area. Where no relief has been rendered so far, it being very badly affected by Subansiri river. The Deputy Commissioner of Dibrugarh provided the leader of this batch with 5,000 tablets of vitamins A,C, and D for free distribution.
In Khoang area the workers of the Samiti distributed truck-loads of paddy plants to the villagers, whose stocks have been washed away by floods in the Dihang river.
Sri Khageshwar Tye the leader of the very first relief batch of the Samiti reports that his batch gave the people injections wherever necessary and possible. But, he adds, the relief measures, though elaborate, were too inadequate to meet the immensity of the problem. The reports of the Saikhoa area. Batch also narrate a dismal tale. This batch first penetrated upto Betavi via Saikhowaghat and village Sissni. Here the path was rendered practically impassable by up-rooted trees and boulders. Houses were far from each other and people were found taking shelter even in stables. From thence the batch proceeded determinedly to Bhavankhel through neck-deep water and waist-deep mud, relieving occupants of submerged huts. It found people sitting on top of their huts amidst stinking mud. In this area the batch had sometimes to cut down the jungle to make headway.
On way to Man Bahaduns from here, the batch took with it some local persons with G.M.C.’s tubes and with the assistance of three Nepalis first prepared a path-way. Thus they could reach a long-suffering isolated village awaiting relief. The next halt was village Phansidiya, which was completely under knee-deep water. The party also made a search for stray individuals in the jungle. Kabu and Passinghat have, however, remained inaccessible to everybody. The Samiti workers have effected the greatest penetration but the current of water is so swift that even they did not succeed in reaching these places, inspite of attempting to cross the stream with ropes tied round their waists.
The general public of Dibrugarh is highly appreciative of the work done so far by the volunteers of R.S.S. at Dibrugarh. A feeling of satisfaction is coming in the minds of people and their morale is rising higher everyday. Regular traffic to and from the affected areas is gradually being restored. This was clear from the fact that in the boats of the volunteers more than 20 natives of the affected area accompanied them to see their homes and families in the up-country.
Organising Secretary
-Bhukamp Pidit Sahayata Samiti, Dibrugarh