Flood Relief

Every flood leaves the region helpless, impacting the property and lives of people. It is imperative for us to reach out to the victims. Food, relief materials, temporary shelter, and trauma-relief workshops are the essential immediate needs for the victims. Our volunteers are at the forefront in delivering the relief materials. From facing the odds of having no transport at all to making their way to boats, from continuous efforts to pack materials spanning over days and nights to wading through deep waters to reach interiors, the relief team in a flood-affected area is on its toes. 

The Art of Living has reached out to several thousands in the past and we continue to do so even today. In the past, our team of committed volunteers have provided timely relief materials to victims of Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Assam and Bihar floods.

What's needed

The relief efforts require the following items on an immediate basis:

• Dress materials (preferably new ones)
• Undergarments (new only)
• Sanitary napkins
• Cleaning materials like mops, cleaning brushes, cleaning liquids, etc.
• Packets of food items like rice, dals, masala, biscuits, bread, etc.
• Chappals and shoes (any size)
• Blankets, spreads like dhari or paya
• Raincoats
• Monetary donations

Donate now

This year, heavy downpour has thrown off normalcy in Bihar, Maharashtra, Assam, Kerala, and Karnataka. Our efforts have received support from volunteers and CSR contributions, however, the impact has affected even the livestock. We need more hands to extend their support to relief operations in the above mentioned states for quick restoration of life and recovery.

What has been done so far?

Bihar

Exceeding amount of rainfall in Bihar has left the state in jeopardy. The Art of Living Bihar team has been providing relief materials in the most-affected regions. In some villages, the team had to rely on boats to ensure relief materials reach the needy in Darbhanga and Khagaria. The team has received help from Capgemini, expediting the flood relief operation efforts. 

• Medical camps set-up at places  
• Reached out to at least 500 beneficiaries so far 
• Medical camps are organised for a routine checkup and also to make sure diseases like diarrhea does not get spread.
• Distributed: 
  • 5 kg chuda to 1,000 families
  • 1 kg salt to 1,000 families
  • 5 packets of biscuits to each family
  • 1,000 families received saree, undergarments and blouse
  • 10 kg cattle feed (a total of  800 packets) 
  • 1 kg honey to 1,000 families
  •  

Assam

The Art of Living has been working round the clock to provide relief materials to the flood victims. Apart from collecting and distributing flood relief material, our teams have been uniting various stakeholders to join hands in working for the flood relief including, the corporate. 

Starting June every year, the monsoons arrive in Assam, leaving the rivers like Brahmaputra and Pagaldia at a threat of breaching the danger mark, further leading to flooding.  This year too, the monsoon has been particularly harsh with 30 of the 33 districts reeling under nature’s fury. The death toll has risen to over 75 and there has been a loss of animal life with over 200 animals reported dead, including 17 one-horned rhinoceros at the Kaziranga National Park. Over 54 lakh people have been displaced and several farmers have lost their homes and crops. The immediate concern is the spread of diseases like diarrhea, fever, and pneumonia as people have no option but to live surrounded by stagnant water. 

 

Meanwhile, our teams have been relentless in their efforts to provide relief, braving not just heavy rains, but also dangerous treks to reach the remotest areas with relief materials.

• Nalbari, one of the worst-affected districts, received our team’s help, the victims have been moved to safer locations and into relief camps. 
• Flood relief materials have been provided in Sotaibari and Borsiral villages too. In Bodoland, volunteers visited relief camps in remote areas with bags full of groceries, reaching out to over 200 families.
• Another team reached out to more than 165 tribal families in  Kothuri, a village in Karbi Anglong.  
• Relief operations carried out in Morigaon, Kaziranga, Bokakhat, Nalbari, Barpeta, Majuli, Kokrajhar, Dhemaji, North Lakhimpur, Dhubri, and Bongaigaon. 
• Over 5,000 families covered, and the plan to reach out to 25,000 families in the coming days. 
• In the second phase of relief operations, volunteers plan to organize free medical camps and provide appropriate shelters in their villages. The relief operations are spearheaded by Col.(Retd) Dr. M. Medhi, Trustee, Sri Sri Rural Development Program.

Maharashtra

Currently, Maharashtra too, is under severe flooding and is witnessing  heavy downpour of 2019. There is an immediate help required to safeguard people, animals, livestock and also set-up relief camps as well as medical camps. The Art of Living volunteers have been working round the clock for disaster relief. As part of relief activities in Maharashtra, the volunteers from different cities have come together to provide as much help is needed.  Volunteers from Mumbai, Pune, Satara, Solapur, Kolhapur, Sangli are at the forefront in these activities.

Our efforts to reach the victims in time with relief materials needs your support. You can contribute to our flood relief initiative and save lives.

• Distributed 3,200 blankets and 3,350 sweaters
• Distributed 23,400 food packets; 22,000 snacks’ packets
• Made at least 1,50,000 liters of drinking water available 
• Set-up medical camps and conducted several trauma relief programs for communities

Kerala

Similar to situation and efforts in other states, Kerala, too has been under serious impact of incessant rainfall and flooding. The Art of Living Karmayog (Youth Leadership Training Program - YLTP) volunteers have distributed food items in affected villages and are conducting trauma relief programs.

So far, we have distributed:

• 150 kg rusk
• 300 packets of biscuits 
• 100 toothbrush, 150 soaps, 30 dish wash soaps
• 1,000 kg rice, 50 liters oil, 30 packets of baby food 
• 300 packets of sanitary pads, 130 baby pampers 
• 280 cloth materials for men and women, 250 undergarments
• 50 packets of rava 
• 25 packets of tea 
• 30 case and 5 cans of water 
• 80 kg sugar 
• 70 kg kadala 
• 40 kg daal 
• 250 kg aviyal 
• 100 kg sharkara 
• 236 coconuts 
• 250 bread
• 30 kg green gram

Karnataka

People from Bangalore have come forward wholeheartedly to help the people affected by the ravaging flood in the state. The Art of Living is facilitating collection of food items from all over Bangalore. We aim to get all the different stakeholders to come and contribute for the cause. Also places where the situation is better our volunteers will conduct trauma relief programs for the affected to bring positivity  and calmness in the minds.