On a recent visit to the US, I was witness to the way the Katrina and Rita disasters were handled. Some of these procedures have a direct bearing on our own relief and rehabilitation measures now under way in J&K. There are two parallels here that need to be looked into. When the Federal Disaster Management Agency was found wanting in handling the task, President Bush moved in the National Guards and the Army. In our case, one does not hear anything of what our own recently set up central government Disaster Management Agency has done in organising relief measures on a country wide scale to address the J&K earthquake, especially in the Uri sector.The Indian Army — the saviour in all emergencies since 1947 — has as usual moved in and is doing its bit, but that is not its role. The government has to chevy up its other agencies meant for the task. If we persist with using the army to handle disasters, it would certainly need an augmentation of its manpower. This is something the MoD is loath to agree to. The answer is to have a close look at the possibility of our paramilitary forces doing the job. Secondly, just because the calamity has taken place in J&K does not mean that there should be any let up in the resource generation and management of disaster relief. Aid and succour must flow without let or hindrance.In the US, criticism is still raging about the fact that it was Black America that suffered the most during Katrina. In J&K too we need to be careful and see that the predominantly Muslim population, hit badly by the tragedy, is adequately compensated during all stages of their settlement. Finally, why are we always so cagey about J&K when it comes to international assistance? Even the US had no hesitation in accepting assistance from the world during Katrina?.There is no security involved in times like this.
