Page 78 - Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2020-21

66 Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2020-21 67

Advisories to protect livelihoods Reducing impact of locust attacks Supporting disaster response teams
through Cyclone Nisarga Locusts, known to leave a trail of destruction, attacked India for through the Uttarakhand floods
the second year in a row, after a gap of 26 years. The infestation A sudden flooding of Dhauli Ganga, Rishi Ganga and Response Disaster
June 2020 was particularly alarming since it included swarms of young Alaknanda rivers on February 14, 2021 caused breakdown of
In Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa, 3.36 lakh individuals received locusts, which are more lethal because they have a longer life road and telecommunication and large-scale devastation
the Nisarga Cyclone alert (pre-disaster preparatory message); cycle. According to estimates, a one sq km long swarm may in the mountainous terrain. The region consists of NTPC’s
2,500+ families received information on the potential impact. contain as many as 40 million locusts which can potentially Tapovan-Vishnugad Hydel Project and the Rishi Ganga Hydel
consume as much food as 35,000 people. Project. Scores of labourers were trapped in tunnels as waters
This was the result of the disaster preparedness and
evacuation campaign in Palghar, Raigad and Ratnagiri districts The infestation spread out across Rajasthan, Maharashtra rushed in. To support the rescue teams, Reliance Foundation
of Maharashtra. As many as 71,000+ farmers, livestock owners and Madhya Pradesh starting April 2020. Reliance Foundation set up community kitchens with an inter-agency group of
and fisherfolk received advisories on livelihood-related swiftly worked with a vast network of knowledge partners NGOs – Alaknanda Ghaati Shilpi Federation and Jan Maitri
precautions and 110 fishing communities received advisories to access and process information crucial to controlling the Yuva Vikas Samiti Joshimat. Together, the group provided
on measures to minimise impact. number of pests and thus reducing the impact of these daily meals and refreshments to 250+ members of the Indo-
attacks. Tibetan Border Police, National Disaster Response Force, State
Disaster Response Force, Uttarakhand Police, the Army and
3.36 lakh 2.7+ lakh Border Roads Organisation, apart from the relatives of missing
People reached through People informed about persons and local workers. Reliance Foundation provided
pre-warning advisories measures to control pests support throughout the search operations from February
14-26, 2021.
Managing flood impact through post-disaster advisories The Reliance Foundation team also collaborated with
the defence forces to transport relief materials through a
Livelihood management in the aftermath of the Godavari floods temporary trolley ropeway in order to reach flood-affected Rituraj, using the temporary ropeway, to provide ration
families across the river. The team distributed masks to ensure
Reliance Foundation supported farming communities to Through YouTube Live management practices for flood- the safety of the rescue operation workers. kits in Uttarakhand
safeguard crops in the aftermath of the August 2020 floods in affected crops were disseminated. Reliance Foundation also
the Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh. Ten virtual programmes supported the provisioning for afternoon and evening meals 250+ members
were held with Krishi Vigyan Kendras, the Agriculture and drinking water for the flood-affected people for 15 days.
Department, and Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, National Disaster Going beyond the call of duty
Agricultural University. 20,000+ individuals Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, Uttarakhand
Police, the Army and Border Roads Organisation etc.,
Additionally, 20,217 individuals were provided information on Counselled on crop disease management following provided with daily meals and refreshments During the Uttarakhand flood disaster in
crop disease management. Among the diseases were bacterial the floods in Godavari district February 2021, we had a great challenge to
leaf blight for paddy, wilt in red gram, micro nutrient boron Uttarakhand Disaster Response with Jio
deficiency in vegetables, root rot in chilies and pink bollworm deliver work on the ground. However, we
in cotton. took up the challenge and accomplished the
mission. The memory of the smiles of those for
whom we worked are still with us.

Rituraj
Uttarakhand

Rituraj, a member of the Reliance Foundation team,
voluntarily agreed to travel on a temporary ropeway to
provide 150 ration kits to the affected people, who were
living in extremely difficult conditions in the flooded high
altitude terrain in Uttarakhand. This was ample proof
of his complete dedication to his work and his empathy
for the community in need. Rituraj worked for more
than a week with a partner NGO and supported them
in cooking and serving people under the ‘Community
Kitchen’ initiative of Reliance Foundation.
Due to Rituraj’s efforts along with those of others,
Reliance Foundation was able to complete the relief work
in Uttarakhand in a systematic and disciplined manner.
Hard working and committed, Rituraj is an example of
many of those Reliance Foundation team members who
go beyond the call of duty to serve those in need.

RF volunteers distributing food as response to the Uttarakhand floods in February 2021