RSS – SEVABHARATHI IN DISASTER RELIEF SERVICES

Michaung cyclone brought heavy rains on 3rd, 4th and flooding Chennai on 5th of Dec, 2023. General public were stranded in their houses as flood water entered all the streets and several houses unsure of how they are going to get out of the flood situation. Wasting no time, Sevabharathi volunteers set on their toes to reach the people in distress.

In the attempt, by 4th December the Sevabharathi volunteers undertook the massive flood relief operation across 15 zones of the Chennai Corporation. With the helpline numbers circulated in social media, more than 5000 help requests were received, within the short time. Kitchens were set up at several spots like Kolathur, Tiruvotriyur, Triplicane, Korattur, Velachery, Tambaram, Chromepet, Pattabiram etc. Volunteers came forward for cooking, cutting vegetables, packeting and despatching the food packets.

Sevabharathi has distributed more than 2,75,000 food packets, more than 11,00,000 water bottles, more than 20,000 bread and biscuit packets, more than 1,500 milk packets and rescued more than 500 people as reported on 6^th Dec, 2023.

Tamilnadu Sevabharathi is a movement for Service which functions upon the saying of Swami Vivekananda, ‘Serve Man as the manifestation of God’ striving to see that every person who is served, raises himself/herself confidently with ‘self-esteem, confidence and self-reliance.’

The Seva Projects function on the five service dimensions called ‘Pancha Kaarya’ which are the duties towards “Education, Health Care, Self-Reliance, Social Welfare and Disaster Management & Rehabilitation”. Through these ‘Pancha Kaarya”, Sevabharathi Tamilnadu aims to bring holistic development among individuals and families which would eventually lead to the development of the nation.

The relief and rehabilitation works undertaken immediately after the 2004 Tsunami, 2015 Chennai Flood, 2018 Kerala Flood, Gaja Cyclone, COVID-19 pandemic, Sevabharathi Tamilnadu has set an impression in the mode of serving mankind at times of need. Right from distributing food, grocery kits and water, clearing the fallen trees during floods and cyclones, their services extended to distributing the mask, sanitizers, kabasura Kashayam and required medical devices during COVID pandemic.

In the November 2015 Chennai Floods, around 5,500 Sevabharathi volunteers plugged into service, rescuing nearly 1,350 persons. About 21.60 Lakh food packets, 12.50 Lakh water bottles were distributed to the affected persons. Relief kits were also distributed to 1,75,250 houses.

Kerala Flood and Gaja Cyclone times saw Sevabharathi Tamilnadu mobilizing relief materials worth Rs. 5 Crore as quickly as possible and sent through 45 trucks (weighing around 360 tons) on war footing basis.

No Tsunami could hold back their services. Over 3,300 Sevabharathi volunteers stepped-in to rescue, relief and rehabilitation activities to provide services to the affected families, the data of which are as follows:

1. 115 persons were rescued before the debris could claim their lives,
2. More than 2,500 dead bodies – most of them in decomposed state – were removed and cremated with dignity,
3. 110 doctors worked round the clock to provide medical aid,
4. Five Ambulances were put into service,
5. 1,200 female volunteers visited 113 villages that were worst affected and provided trauma counselling to children and adults,
6. 116 medical experts along with 6 mobile medical units were brought in from other states to provide medical treatment,
7. 15 relief centres were opened,
8. More than 46,000 people were fed within the first one week of the disaster,
9. 26,860 family kits were distributed,
10. A mineral water plant with a capacity of 20,000 litres/day was installed to provide drinking water to 12 affected villages,
11. Temporary shelters were put up for the affected the families,
12. Sevabharathi Tamilnadu has constructed more than 850 permanent houses for the affected families.

After rendering their valuable and timely services to the fellow-citizens and the Nation, the Sevabharati volunteers silently return back to their personal lives without claiming any recognition or reward in return for their services. Sevabharathi is neither shown in news highlights nor is any documentary film made on their services. No prominent banners to advertise their services. Yet, Sevabharathi’s services continue as a silent moral support to the civic society whispering in low voice that “if there is any need, do not worry, Sevabharathi is there to help you.” Such humane are the decades of humble, dedicated services of Sevabharathi Tamilnadu, serving people in distress!