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Journalism of Courage
Vishwa Jagriti Mission Trust has set an example for the society by visiting flood hit areas of Bihar and helping the flood victims with basic things
While some leave no stone unturned in dividing the country on the basis of regionalism and language, there are few bravehearts, who make all efforts to save human life irrespective of the political boundaries and other differences.
Setting one such example for the world to follow, a Pune based organisation, Vishwa Jagriti Mission Trust VJMT, had set out to help people of Bihar, who were stuck in flood.
8220;In past we have participated in rescue operations during tsunami in Andaman and earthquake in Gujarat. People of Pune have been an excellent support as we could manage to get four wagons full of food, clothes and other necessities for the flood victims within two days,8221; says Narendra Pal Singh, who was in the rescue team of VJMT and who is a financial consultant by profession.
Sharing his experience with the Bihar administration, Singh says that they had to struggle a lot to get their stuff cleared from the administration. 8220;We nearly had to fight to get a permission to get directly involved in rescue operation and reach out to victims. We were asked to hand over the material to Red Cross to which we did not agree. As I myself saw that heavy amount of food grains and other materials were lying unused but were not distributed among the needy. So we decided that we would ourselves distribute things among the flood victims,8221; shares Singh.
Singh says that they were a bit apprehensive regarding the response that they might get from the victims but all turned out be better than expected. They had heard of the anti-social activities that go on in the deserted villages and also heard that the victims might get violent. But they were surprised to see that when they very humbly explained the situation to the villagers and asked for their cooperation, they got more than expected.
8220;It was height of honesty when flood hit families returned the extra food to us after taking their required share. I was touched by this gesture. The youth their helped us in unloading and distributing the stuff among the victims. Media has so wrongly portrayed people of Bihar, who are hardworking and honest,8221; shares Singh.
Singh says locals point out that even in such adverse conditions politicians do not sink their differences and come together to help the flood-affected. The existence of Lalu camp, Nitish camp and Paswan camp corroborates the fact that politicians merely look upon this as an ideal opportunity to further their cause by influencing the voters.
For further assistance, Singh says that they are committed to send mats to arrange for bedding for the victims.
