Given the magnitude of damage to livestock and water resources in South 24 Parganas as high waves from the sea flooded interior areas, it was clear that the area would require several decades even to stage a partial recovery.

The number of people affected directly in West Bengal is around 68,00,000 mostly agriculturists, sharecroppers, fishermen and small traders. Despite an official death toll of 78, local estimates suggest at least 300 were killed. Many more remain missing. The damage caused in Bangladesh was no less, with nine people losing their lives within hours of the storm and the toll went up by scores.

But more than a year later, it is clear that families of victims in Bangladesh have fared much better in terms of securing official help and relief, compared to their relatively luckless West Bengal neighbours. Ironically, this has happened even though the ruling Left Front coalition in West Bengal prides itself on being a government for the poor first and last.

The reason: official mismanagement, political bickering and apathy.

Observers point out authorities paid more attention in Bangladesh to organizing concrete, immediate relief instead of organizing seminars and high ministerial meetings, the bane of official functioning in West Bengal. Accordingly, government officials immediately made available an initial amount of taka 100 crores on an emergency basis and made sure the money reached the people who needed it most. It was something of an advantage that Bangladesh on whole suffers more natural devastation and calamities than India, because authorities have learnt the business of disaster management better. Much poorer economically than India, Bangladesh has built concrete embankments along riverbanks that are chronically vulnerable to flooding or erosion, unlike West Bengal.

Later, officials in West Bengal, out of their wits on being confronted with the worst natural calamity in recent years, made much of this fact and did what they have always excelled in — they immediately blamed the centre for its “indifference”. There was no mention that the state had rarely moved the centre on such issues! On their part, Bangladesh authorities, who have also put together a better weather warning system than available in West Bengal, denied any special advantage and admitted that forecasts had not really helped them this time.

For sharecroppers, Bangladesh initiated special credit schemes. Long term credit and rehab programmes were drawn up in consultation with NGOs, international relief agencies like Caritas. Non resident Bangladeshis helped with major contributions from US, UK, Canada and other countries.

Now Bangladesh officials have just concluded a new agreement with European Union authorities to work out an 18 month programme at a cost of taka 40 crores. Efforts would be made to help sectors of the affected population, such as small traders, rickshaw and van pullers, sharecroppers, women, children, landless labour and petty trades-people. Special attention would be given to disabled, the old and otherwise handicapped people.

In contrast, the affected people in West Bengal have had very little luck or official help. The centre has announced to help with Rs 5000 crore, which would also include a component of shoring up coastal embankments. However, as senior state Ministers have pointed out, the announcement remains on paper and nothing has arrived — yet. Central authorities on their part have asked detailed assessment of the damage suffered from the state in Midnapore, and North and South 24 Parganas.

These areas have suffered a direct financial loss of Rs 3500 crore or so in terms of life, property, environment and livestock. Because of increased salinity, large tracts of land have become unfit for cultivation and many ponds have become unusable for fishing. Thousands of agriculturists and fisherman have lost their livelihood and now crowd suburban railway stations in search of work and shelter, deserting their homes.

NGO workers active in these areas say that over 80% of the men folk have gone off to work as daily labour in south and North India. Among the men only the very old or very young remain. Even women have joined their husbands wherever possible. The exodus has been very large, because fresh work opportunities in West Bengal are few.

In terms of relief organisation, the state government's efforts have been pathetically inept. An adult was given on average 1.38 kilos of rice per month, only around 11% of the minimum 12 kgs needed to stave off famine, as defined by famine code requirements. There was hardly any work available through the NREGS programmes. Social activists who reported their findings through blogs and articles in the press alleged that a sum of Rs 1.30 crore was paid to peasants and locals only after a long and bitter agitation for work they had done long ago through the NREG schemes!

State officials plead that they had no “previous experience” in organizing relief work after such a horrendous calamity, an excuse that their Bangladeshi counterparts must have found amusing. Not that the state has learnt much, apart from blaming the centre. Spokesmen of National Flood Disasters Management Core group point out that 15 months later, the state is yet to begin a serious study to assess the coastal retrogradation in affected areas. (IPA)