Gadag (Karnataka), Nov 1 (Inditop.com) Like scores of other villages in north Karnataka, Amaragol and Hole Hadagali also suffered death and destruction in floods. But these two villages consider themselves lucky as a group of youngsters has come to their aid.
A group of 100 college students spent seven days in both the villages, located in the Ron taluka of Gadag district – around 480 km northwest of the Karnataka capital – and helped the villagers in relief and rehabilitation work.
As part of a seven-day National Service Scheme (NSS) camp which ended Wednesday, students from Sri Basaveshwara Arts and Commerce College, KSS Arts and Commerce College, KSS BSW College in Gadag and Kalmeshwar Arts, Science and Commerce College of Hole Alur made it a point to lend their helping hand to flood victims.
“We’re thankful to the young students who have taken out time to help us in time of our need,” Basavaraj, an elderly resident of Amaragol, told Inditop.
“Floods have completely destroyed our village. Our houses have been damaged and so have our crops. We’ve nowhere to go. We are touched by the gesture of the youngsters as they have helped us to rebuild our lives,” he added.
An estimated 18 million people have been affected by the floods in 18 of Karnataka’s 29 districts in September-October. Three days of torrential rain, accompanied by floods, beginning Sep 30, left around 220 people dead in the state.
During their seven-day special camp – the group of 80 boys and 20 girls – cleaned up the anganwadi centres, primary healthcare centres, streets and primary schools in both the villages.
“We joined the villagers in rebuilding their huts,” Shivappa Hooli, one of the participating students, said.
Along with cleaning the surroundings, the students also staged street plays for the villagers.
“The street plays were aimed at creating awareness about keeping the surroundings clean and about personal hygiene. Post-floods several diseases are likely to affect the villagers, especially children. We have tried to teach them the basics of hygiene and cleanliness that should be maintained to avoid diseases,” said Subha P., a student volunteer.
The students stayed at Kalmeshwar school in the nearby town of Hole Alur and travelled to the villages every day.
If villagers are touched by the gesture of the youngsters, the college students feel they are fortunate to have got this opportunity to help.
“I have attended several camps, but this one is very different. I was shocked to see the condition of both the villages. Both the villages have been completely destroyed after the floods. It will take long to rebuild the villages and lives of the villagers,” said Susheela, a student volunteer.
“We want to come here again and do whatever possible for the flood victims. During such difficult times we all need to help our fellow citizens,” added Vittal H. Maradi, a college student at the camp.
Five NSS officials who monitored the special rehabilitation camp by the college students expressed their happiness at the kind of work carried out by the youngsters in only a week’s time.
“The volunteers have done a good job. I am happy with the results. The students have done a noble job. The villagers are happy with the boys and girls and we hope to come back here again to further continue our work,” said NSS officer T.N. Pandre.
The villagers want more such youngsters to help them in times of need.
“Along with financial aid, we need people who can help us in clearing the village streets of debris, repairing the roads and rebuilding the houses,” said Bhagawan, a village elder in Hole Hadagali.
