Repairing Faith...Rebuilding Uttarakhand.

After the June 15th floods in Uttarakhand, thousands were rescued but thousands still remain stranded. While rescue operations are still on which keeps hope alive, it is the residents of Uttarakhand now that need help. I watched a story on one of the National news channels which says that there is only ration and relief material for 30 families out of 270 families. It might be said that in dire situations, make do with what you have. But one of the residents said, 'We helped rescue pilgrims, but what about us?' And it really makes one wonder, has the State administration forgotten about them? How long will the residents continue to survive on ration and relief material meant for less than half their number? From the looks of it, it will take years to repair the damage in the State. But before that, there are more pertinent issues that need to be addressed.

The politics behind the blame game overshadows the need of the hour. Some reports suggested it was a man made disaster as warning signs were ignored and norms were not adhered to. But man made efforts too can reach out to the people at the core of the State and thereafter help rebuild Uttarakhand. Politics aside, who sits with a plan on how to go about the work in the aftermath of the disaster? The buck doesn't just stop at rescuing people and presuming those missing as dead. It is not easy for the victims of the natural disaster to move on and it is not a plausible solution for the State administration to ignore the reality faced of the road that lies ahead. With hopes shattered, the State Government has a task of living upto the faith of the commoners that choose to rebuild their lives in the State rather than fleeing to greener pastures with the nightmare left behind.