My train reached Patna at 5.30am and my day and mission started. We had decided to provide lactogen (L-3) to infants and innocent children displaced due to floods. The first thing I did was to contact the local representative of Nestle, the organization with which we had booked the Lactogen (L 3). I ensured that the consignment is ready to be moved to the flood affected area. By evening the things were ready loaded onto a delivery van to be sent to base camp Purnea.

The second important thing was to take permission from government authorities to conduct the relief work. I visited Purnea for the same. It was a train journey from Patna to Katihar and thereafter on road. During the road journey I discussed the plan of the day ahead with the local guide. We planned to cover Banmankhi, Araria and Saharsa in next three days.

Day 1

It was 9 am next day, at Purnea, I first checked the delivery of the consignment from Nestle. At 11 am, I sought an appointment with senior government officials of Purnea. There I briefed the administrative machinery about Smile Foundation and our plan to help the flood victims especially children. However, we could not get the permission to continue on our own and as per the Disaster Management plan of the government, we were asked to give all material to Red Cross, for distribution.

Nevertheless Smile Foundation trusts other rescue organizations but we wanted to distribute the milk packets ourselves so that they reach the genuine needy and affected. I sought intermediation of a political acquaintance, and as planned, got the necessary go ahead from the District administration. The authorities also advised us to serve the worst affected Mirchiwadi area.

Having got the requisite permission and armed with passion, courage, I with a team of volunteers carried 60 cartons of milk to Mirchiwadi, located in the interiors of Purnea. Meanwhile, the local guide had successfully mobilized a few college going youth, to help as the volunteers and offered them Smile Foundation caps and t-shirts along with a token amount of Rs.200/- day, in return for their services.

At Mirchiwadi, I at first got in touch with the BDO, who not just praised our intentions and efforts but also, instructed some Anganwadi workers to help us. We conducted a small training session for the volunteers and Anganwadi workers, where we demonstrated how to use the Lactogen (L-3) packets. My team was ready to begin the distribution. We divided ourselves into three groups and began the job. Our targets were families with infants of age between 1 and 2 years. However, I soon realized that it was difficult in a camp area to distribute milk packets to selective families and refuse others. That was my first learning in relief work.

We somehow convinced the villagers and managed to distribute around 720 packets of lactogen there, before proceeding to the second camp that was 65 Kms away. Sumrit High School, Banmankhi was now a relief camp for Flood victims from Madhepura. We replicated the same process of distribution there. Everything went smoothly here and we could touch 371 families, following which we moved to the 3rd camp for the day, located just a few miles away from 2nd camp. At this place we distributed another 288 packets and talked to the victims. A very tiring yet even more satisfying day came to an end with that. The plan for next day was to reach Araria district.

Day-2

I woke up early in the morning. Volunteers too came in time and after having a heavy breakfast we moved to Araria. Again the first step there was to inform the district authorities about Smile Foundation’s work plan. Araria was having a big camp organized by the state government. I met the camp in charge and took guidance from him. Divided in four teams and matured with experiences from day 1, we managed to finish the job quickly and moved to the second camp. Day 2 brought before us a new lesson. At around 4 in the evening, it started raining. We wanted to finish off the work as soon as possible. While I was moving some cartons, from the van, I felt a bite at my leg and by the time I could react, I saw a snake running away. I called up my driver and warned other people about the snake.

The Circle officer informed the ADM, Araria regarding the incident. Fortunately he was nearby. I was rushed to the block office, approximately 35 kms away, where a medical camp by UNICEF was underway. I was given an antivenom and was referred to either visit Patna or Kolkata for taking antibiotics. Next morning, I returned to Delhi and took necessary medication.

The incident, cut short my work at the relief camp and forced me to be back to Delhi. The one and a half day that I spent talking to and distributing milk packets to flood victims was the best part of my sojourn. Wish if I could have got more days there. I had a narrow escape myself, but that has not deterred my zeal to go back again to the same kind of work, if ever need be.