In the report “Floods in Karnataka: Impact assessment and recommendations”, the survey stated that it focused on the psychological needs and various issues faced by the flood affected people of the flood affected people of the Krishna river basin in northern Karnataka and had arrived at the conclusion that the harrowing experience, instead of letting the flood victims give up their faith in God, had allowed them to reinforce their faith and hope in the Almighty.
An overwhelming 51.07 per cent of the survivors declared “belief in God” helped them cope with the situation. The other factor that helped was “faith in themselves” (29.61 per cent).
51 per cent of the respondents felt their faith was "strengthened," 28 per cent stated it remained "same" and for 25 per cent, it “weakened.”
The survey was rather extensive involving as many as 3,000 people representing 626 families from various flood-affected areas in Belgaum were interviewed. The age group of the survey sample ranged from 25 to 90 years.
The survey clearly reveals people’s abiding faith in family-values, binding people in times of need and devastation. As many as 72 per cent of the survivors reported having received some kind of support from their family. Children have been the major source of support (26.22 per cent) followed by parents (23.55 per cent), spouse (19.55 per cent) and siblings (15.55 per cent).
When it comes to relief measures, the flood affected stated that the government has been a major source of help, providing them with tents, clothes and financial assistance. However, the survivors have expressed dissatisfaction over the quality of materials provided to them.
Surprisingly, even after the floodwaters receded, people still expressed their need for the most basic amenities such as clean drinking water.
As always in times of tragedies, women have complained that their husbands have started spending much of the relief money on alcohol.
The survey also revealed that such natural calamities have a profound effect on children and the Belgaum floods have increased school dropout rate considerably.
Surojit Chatterjee
Christian Today Correspondent