“The Excluded in Relief and Rehabilitation” Survey of post-flood situation of Dalit victims‟ access to relief and rehabilitation in Andhra Pradesh floods of 2009 Commissioned by National Dalit Watch & Dalit Watch-Andhra Pradesh National Dalit Watch- National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights Dalit Watch-Andhra Pradesh The Dalit Watch-AP is a coalition comprised of grassroots organisation working on issues pertaining to Dalit rights and empowerment. This includes the Sakshi Human Rights Watch, Dalit Bahujan Sramik Union AP (DBSU), Mamidipudi Venkatarangaiya Foundation (MVF), Confederation of Voluntary Associations (COVA), Bhavita, PARA, OOTA, ROADS, SAFE, PREACHERS, SPEAR, and Indira Mahila Chaitanya Mandali, as an immediate response to the September-October 2009 floods in Andhra Pradesh, that left millions affected. Though this disaster was not „casteist‟ in its destruction, the bitter fact is that the Dalits and Tribes, with their women, children, disabled and aged were the most vulnerable of the vulnerable. Stories covered by the media on the subject further motivated us towards a planned intervention regarding the implementation of relief operations and schemes. Hard facts of instances of discrimination and exclusion caused the formation of this network in AP to defend the rights of the Dalits in disasters. It was named Dalit Watch-AP, and decided to work under the aegis of National Dalit Watch (NCDHR). National Dalit Watch The National Dalit Watch (NDW) is an initiative of the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR) which has emerged from an informed recognition of the rampant discrimination and exclusion faced by Dalit communities during disaster response and mitigation. Building on the experiential base of NCDHR in exposing and countering exclusion in some of the major disasters of our times (Tsunami in 2004, Bihar Floods in 2007 and 2008), NDW has been working towards developing tools and methods to identify, expose and document this form of discrimination. NDW enables Dalit rights organizations, local activists and the community leadership in various parts of the country to effectively monitor discrimination and exclusion during disasters. Through advocacy and mobilization the NDW works towards instituting a policy environment that recognizes such discrimination and defining entitlements of survivors in a manner that makes the state accountable. NDW at present has its operation in Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Assam. Supported by ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We dedicate this report to the survivors of the devastationg floods of Septembe-October 2009, particularly of the Kurnool and Mahaboobnagar districts for their undying cooperation and assistance to the surveyors in accomplishing the study within the stipulated time frame, by agreeing to share their formidable account of floods in the wake of tough and unspeakable circumstances. We thank all the concerned departments and authorities for cooperating with the representatives of DW-AP during the collection process of related Government Orders that helped in designing the survey questionnaire. We also thank our surveyors for having stayed at the villages and collecting the evidences for the left out in relief and rehabilitation in AP after 2009 floods, and the representatives of Dalit Watch AP for their onsite assistance to the surveyors. We also extend our special thanks to Oxfam India and Cordaid, both having their interventions in emergencies, for enabling us to undertake this study. We acknowledge deeply the tireless efforts of DW-AP comprised oof grassroots organisations for their solidarity and unity in conducting the survey, without losing sight to the survey objective. Without their consolidated approach this would not have been possible. Last but not the least; we appreciate and thank the team of National Dalit Watch-NCHDR for their valuable inputs and continuos support in designing the survey methodology, questionnaire and drafting of the final report. CONTENTS S. No Items I. Foreword II. The Rationale III. Executive Summary IV. Methodology a. Selection of volunteers and villages for survey b. Capacity building of volunteers for effective data collection c. Collection of all G.O.s and guidelines related to relief and rehabilitation schemes about this floods affected area d. Data collection, entry and analysis V. The Findings 1. Relief operations a. Distribution of relief material b. Temporary sheds 2 Compensation a. Assessment of various non compensated cases b. Norms of assistance from CRF & NCCF VI. Inadequacies of basic amenities at temporary shelters & plight of women and children VII. Rehabilitation a. Failure of NREGS b. Delayed or no restoration of affected village amenities? VIII. Suggestions for follow up IX. Recommendations to the concerned authorities X. Conclusion XI. Annexures I. FOREWORD At the end of September 2009, sudden depressions in Bay of Bengal caused heavy rain fall in the catchment areas of Tungabhadra and Krishna rivers causing heavy flooding of both these rivers. This caused heavy flood in North Karnataka and the Rayalaseema region of AP. According to the official sources, over 13 lakh people were affected in five districts of Andhra Pradesh following unprecedented floods in Krishna river basin and have claimed 37 lives. This has been the heaviest flood in these rivers including River Krishna in more than 100 years (Source: As on October 7, 2009: Special Commissioner Relief, Government of A.P). As many as 478 villages in 87 'mandals' have been severely hit in the last four days. The worst hit parts were of Kurnool and Mahaboobnagar districts of AP. According to Bureau sources, in a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, the State Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah mentioned that the loss to agriculture and horticulture was estimated at Rs 1050 crore, animal husbandry (Rs. 250 crore), fisheries (Rs 100 crore) and housing (Rs 300 crore). The public infrastructure covering irrigation, roads, power and communication requires about Rs 10,000 crore and the rescue and relief operation another Rs 500 crore. The Andhra Pradesh Government urged the Central Government to treat it as a „national calamity‟ and release Rs 6,000 crore for relief, rehabilitation and restoration works. Taking into consideration above mentioned facts, Dalit Watch AP, with support from National Dalit Watch conducted a survey of 308 villages of the 565 affected villages of five districts of AP, namely, , Mahbuboobnagar, Nalgonda, Krishna and Guntur, from 20 to 26 October 2009. The survey was conducted to unearth the gaps in the government system of functioning during disasters and expose the shameful attitude of the local authorities whose primary responsibility is to ensure equitable and non-discriminatory approach in reaching out to the affected masses with rescue and relief measures. The study revealed that a majority of the Dalits from Mahaboobnagar district were the last to know about the calamity. They were also the last in getting relief and compensation, and being rehabilitated. Quite a few families migrated in search of livelihoods. In many villages, Dalits complained that SC colonies were the last to get relief material. NGO relief too was usurped by the upper castes. Many names went missing from the lists of victims‟ made by the officials, especially where the victims did not return to the village immediately. Officials refused to include them afterwards. ****** II. THE RATIONALE The experience after all the past disasters and calamities is that the most vulnerable and marginalized Dalit communities and their women, children and aged were the people who were again the most affected and yet the discriminated in every aspect of the relief works: in identifying them as victims in the disaster, in evaluating their losses, and including them in the planning, monitoring and implementation of programmes for their future rehabilitation. The insidious practice of discrimination against Dalits practiced day after day gets magnified even more when disasters strike. Their social and economic fragility, inability to anticipate, cope with or recuperate from the impact of disasters makes them increasingly susceptible to these horrendous disasters. Despite forming the highest ratio in deaths and property loss, Dalits remain the last to get relief and rehabilitation. Dalits earn their livelihood on a day to day basis with no back up mechanism. Any protracted lack of employment exposes them to the danger of starvation and ill health. Caste based social structure, practice of untouchability and a prejudiced mindset is a major reason for their low ownership of assets and access to quality infrastructure. Even at the times of disasters, the practice of untouchability keeps the poor Dalits from receiving the precious little offered by the state and civil society organisations. A study of the monsoon floods of 2007 in various parts of India showed that 60 percent of the dead were Dalits. These factors create additional and specific vulnerabilities on the Dalits in the context of disaster. Entrenched underdevelopment further weakens their survivability. The study was conducted to figure out if Dalits received equal attention and care as did the upper caste people when the relief operations were underway; to check out whether the temporary shelters erected by the government have been helpful; to assess whether the compensation given for the losses suffered was sufficient; and also to explore the current situation in general, and the plight of women and children