Personal learning from Chennai Flood Response. By Dr. Suresh Raghunath, CHLP 2015-16 page 34

Item

Title: Personal learning from Chennai Flood Response. By Dr. Suresh Raghunath, CHLP 2015-16 page 34
extracted text: 1) Sanitary Pads

2)

Contraception
- Sindoor
- Bindi
- Condom

- Oral Contraceptive Tablets

3) Iron and Folic Acid Tablets

Sanitation Program
Model Toilets are being built by DFY in Villivakam Panchayat Union Elementary School. DFY is also

building toilets in communities around Pattabiram, Thirunindravur without access to toilets. Two sets of
Model Toilets have been built over a span of 8 days.

Waste Disposal

Most of the garbage is incinerated but often waste is thrown by the roadside or into open drains.

is
Stagnant Water is a huge
I
problem and needs the intervention of Engineers, Civil/PWD Department,
Local Health Inspector/ Corporation
who
•
- - need
--J t0 coordinate with the Village Health Sanitation
Committee.

Possible Solution?

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Sandbags can be used along with bleaching powder to cover the wet roads to facilitate temporary
movement until the water is drained.

Vector Control Program

They Identify Larvae to decide Anti Larval Measures.
Usually:

Aedis Egypti is found in Stagnant Water
Anopheles is found in Flowing Water
Either Anti Larval is sprayed followed by ABATE Oil Emulsion once a week
Or

The water is completely drained and the pits are filled up.

The vector control program is in effect in Area 4 and Cuddalore as DEY has written permissions to
conduct these activities in these areas, They purchased 2 microfoggers and are looking for a full time

entymologist to coordinate and conduct these activities.

Educational Program
DFY has started a library with 500 books which were donated by IIT Alumni and a librarian
was appointed from the community. The community was looking for a tutor, to tutor

children who cannot afford private schools and have dropped out.
In response to the demand for a tutor. It was suggested to Indupriya of R.R.Traders to help

put the children who have dropped out into Government Schools or approach private
schools via the Right to Education Act. Shortly after the discussion with her, she read up
about the RTE act, approached Amudha Matriculation School, a Private School in

Moggapair, Chennai and negotiated to put Shwetha back into school. Shwetha's father who

was the primary breadwinner of the family has Cancer and does not work anymore.
Shwetha got admitted on 25<h January through the Right to Education Act. Shortly after
admission the school demanded Rs.2,700 as Van Fees which Indupriya has paid for from her
pocket.

Indupriya is now starting an Association to systematically put children back into school every
year.

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Shwetha with her mother who now works at R.R.Traders and helps Assemble Dignity Kits for DRY

Positive Outcomes:
1)

Following the community dialogue, Indupriya is going to start an Association to enroll children
from the community systematically into schools through the Right to Information Act every year

2)

DFY is going to ensure sustainability by tying up institutional heads of schools with people in the

nearest municipality hospitals.
3)

Personal Learnings:
1)

Enthusiasm drives a team in a disaster scenario. There were members from DFY in the team

who played an unsung role in maintaining motivation in the team and maintaining an upbeat
environment throughout and I got along well with these people, working with them was very
easy.

2)

Communityship: To coexist and foster a community in a team from diverse religious and

geographic backgrounds by singing songs on our trips to the fields and making silly jokes or just

laughing for no reason, for that matter.

3)

No more Stage Fright after this one:

To communicate to large audiences and answer their questions in a language I don't think in.
Though Tamil is my native tongue, I never really had the opportunity to spend much time in

Tamil Nadu and we don't speak much Tamil at home, but since I was the only member on the
team in the field that knew some Tamil I would end up being the speaker to the audiences. It

was a joyful experience engaging with large audiences, especially when they were enthusiastic, I

would have never thought before this trip that I would have enjoyed it as much, that I was

capable of doing this and that it would give me so much satisfaction for the rest of my waking
day. Those days were so happy we would laugh ourselves to sleep. My roommate and I.

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4)

Professional Confidence:
This visit gave me the confidence to conduct an OPD with an array of medical issues with a team
of allied staff. I enjoyed talking to the people who came for medicines and listening to their
interesting stories. I watched the entertainer in me spring out during this trip in both the camps

and the school talks to cover up for how serious I am on the inside. He is entertaining to both
me and the people outside. I wish he visits more often he is fun.
5)

Networking:
I learnt to network and connect people who can help each other on this visit. I also learnt that I

can talk to organizationally senior folks naturally and they value this if you exercise some degree

of judgement and sensibility. Circumstances allowed me to meet two of the three founders of

DFY and the Global Operations Head of Wipro. Being honest about my thoughts has helped me
on this trip, because these organizational heads valued an honest input when they ask for

feedback, though this has not always been the case in other places and experiences I have been

through. The Wipro Operations Chief has asked me to talk to him after I come to Bangalore and
the founder and co-founder of DFY have said they are interested in coming to SOCHARA to talk

to Ravi and Thelma and the fellows and shared their contacts. Also within the team Dr.Balram
who is the Public Health Expert for DFY will be joining us at MFC in Raipur thanks to Rahul.

Indupriya from R.R.Traders who is a Community Leader is in touch with Ameer.
6)

Knowledge Dissemination is a Powerful Tool when you empower Committed Community
Leaders with essential information and they follow through and implement actions

7)

A few hours of interaction and attention is enough to change peoples lives and make friends for
life and beyond.

Contact Networks

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Media: RF_DM-3_CHE-2_SUDHA.pdf

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