By Louis Rodgrigues –
Belagavi: The Belgaum Diocesan Social Service Society (BDSSS), in association with its partners Caritas India, Karnataka Regional Organisation for Social Service (KROSS) Bangalore, Catholic Christian Groups and with other voluntary groups, has commenced the distribution of the relief material since Wednesday.
The groups have been engaged in visiting flood-affected areas and have made a survey about families in most need of relief material.
Intending to support about 2,500 flood-affected families in Chikodi and Khanapur talukas of Belgavi district and parts of Bagalkote district, the BDSSS under the guidance of Bishop of Belgaum Derek Fernandes have been engaged since last fortnight in cleaning of houses, schools etc and holding medical camps in the flood-affected areas.
A team has also surveyed villages where relief was required the most. Accordingly, relief consignments are being despatched to different places. One such major consignment was sent to Khanapur late Wednesday night in the presence of Bishop Derek Fernandes. “Talukas of Belgaum-Chikkodi and Khanapur, Badami’s Pattadkal (Bagalkot district) and many other areas of the region marooned in water as rivers overflowed beyond expectations, dismantling the lives of the people badly,” said Director of BDSSS Fr Eusebio Fernandes.
“People were forced to shift to relief centres with loss of foodgrains, farmlands, possessions and even livestock used for agriculture. As a result, we appealed to people from Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra and we are thankful that sufficient materials have been received so that we can support at least 2500 families,” Fr Fernandes added.
Responding to the flood relief call given by Bishop of Belgaum Rev Dr Derek Fernandes Director of Caritas India, New Delhi Rev Fr Paul Moonchaly along with Director of Karnataka Regional Organisation for Social Service (KROSS), Fr Sebastian Fernandes, Bangaluru, paid visit to the flood affected areas of Chikkodi taluka in Belagavi district.
Fr Fernandes said the BDSSS will dispense foodgrains, clothing, mats, blankets, bed-sheets and materials of daily use to 2,000 flood affected people, with over 500 volunteers working in shifts day and night to procure, pack and distribute the material.
The BDSSS is a registered NGO and has been involved in social service across the verticals of health and hygiene, livelihood, agriculture, education, childcare and safety, women empowerment, emergency response and disaster risk reduction and integrated rural development from more than two decades and has successfully run projects across the districts of Belgaum, Dharwad, Bagalkot, Haveri, Gadag and Chandgad in Maharashtra.
PHOTOS : Bishop Derek Fernandes with the volunteers and during his visit with Caritas and Cross directors to the flood affected areas.