The devastating cyclonic storm Phailin, which hit Orissa, and the subsequent heavy floods on 12/10/2013 have caused massive destruction, leaving lakhs of people homeless, besides heavily damaging crops, houses fields, kitchen gardens and other property in many districts, particularly Ganjam and Balasore. It has also damaged and disrupted communication systems, water supply and other civic services. Normal life was shattered to such an extent that it brought back painful memories of the 1999 super-cyclone which shattered Orissa.
Art of Living, as a concerned contributor in society, and with its well-known record of disaster-relief initiatives, launched operations to mitigate the sufferings of the cyclone-afflicted people of Orissa. After discussions with the Collector of Ganjam and the disaster management team, the volunteers of Art of Living began the relief operation work on 24.10.2013, and are continuing to date in Khallikote & Hinjilicut blocks of Ganjam district.
The relief material supplied by the AOL volunteers included dry food packets, cooked food, bed sheets, clothes, sleeping mats, bleaching power, disinfectant, soaps & detergent etc. From 25th 2013, dry as well as cooked food was distributed to 1500 people on a daily basis. Door-to-door distribution of relief kits was also undertaken.
BALASORE RELIEF OPERATIONS:
Balasore District was also heavily affected in this natural calamity due to heavy flooding. On 27th October, volunteers of The Art of Living conducted flood relief camps in Manikpatana and Parikul, two remote villages in Balasore. Food, clothes and water were distributed. In every natural disaster, outbreak of diseases is always a major concern. Hence The Art of Living also conducted a free medical camp in Manikpatna on 10th November with a team of government Doctors, a child specialist and specialist doctors. Over 200 citizens were treated in both these camps.
In addition to this the devotees of AOL have distributed 5,000 note books & ball pens to students of various schools in Balasore district.The Art of Living also plans to start some more relief initiatives in the area.
