Rights group calls India's tsunami efforts "pathetic"

[BarneyFife]

Link

An Asian human rights group on Monday described India's relief efforts in tsunami affected areas as "pathetic," a charge strongly denied by the government.

"The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is extremely concerned about the pathetic state of relief operations carried out in India for victims of the tsunami, especially in the states of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry as well as the Andaman and Nicobar islands," the Hong Kong based organization said in a statement.

"The information we have received from the two states worst hit is highly disturbing," the organization said.

It levelled a host of allegations including a lack of coordination between various agencies, aid mismanagement, caste discrimination in distribution of supplies, early shutting down of relief centres and a "meager" quantity of relief being doled out to the thousands of survivors.

"The assistance in some areas is overlapped whereas other affected places are being completely ignored," it said. "The information we have received from the two states worst hit is highly disturbing," the organization said.

 

[kage69]

Untouchables live in hell on a normal basis, I can't imagine what they're going through now. 🙁

 

[Genx87]

Must be the in thing to do with these relief organizations.

Piss and moan about free money.

Amazing tactic.

 

[BarneyFife]

Originally posted by: Genx87
Must be the in thing to do with these relief organizations.

Piss and moan about free money.

Amazing tactic.

No. India was the one that was too arrogant to accept any donations from charities.

 

[CycloWizard]

Originally posted by: BarneyFife
No. India was the one that was too arrogant to accept any donations from charities.

Apparently, India refused outside help because the tsunami hit their most precious military base. They don't want any foreigners on these islands to help out, so they shut out everyone. All this according to the Indian grad students here.

 

[RabidMongoose]

I saw a segment about the caste discrimination on CNN a few days ago. Some of the people of lower caste were not given proper supplies. Some of the other people displaced by the tsunami would not even permit the untouchables to sleep in the same camps as them. It was pretty ridiculous. How inhumane can you be in a time of great tragedy?

 

[DragonMasterAlex]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: There will be NO PEACE until the rights of every INDIVIDUAL are recognized as legitimate, sovereign and independent of all others.

Sad, but not unexpected.

Jason

 

[shrumpage]

Its pretty sad. Our church supports an orphange about 5 miles from the coast. The head of the orphange, either called or emailed (not sure which) our pastor just to let us know they were ok. He also said that basically the people who really need the help, widows, orphans, the really poor, aren't getting it do to the "caste system."

I am glad it has gotten some attention through news outlets.

 

[raildogg]

maybe if you posted the entire article it would've been better.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Rights group calls India's tsunami relief efforts 'pathetic'


Tuesday, January 11, 2005 at 07:29 JST
NEW DELHI ? An Asian human rights group on Monday described India's relief efforts in tsunami affected areas as "pathetic," a charge strongly denied by the government.

"The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is extremely concerned about the pathetic state of relief operations carried out in India for victims of the tsunami, especially in the states of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry as well as the Andaman and Nicobar islands," the Hong Kong based organization said in a statement.




"The information we have received from the two states worst hit is highly disturbing," the organization said.

It levelled a host of allegations including a lack of coordination between various agencies, aid mismanagement, caste discrimination in distribution of supplies, early shutting down of relief centres and a "meager" quantity of relief being doled out to the thousands of survivors.

"The assistance in some areas is overlapped whereas other affected places are being completely ignored," it said.

"The AHRC is particularly concerned about reports that many remote villages are totally neglected due to caste discrimination and political allegiance. Such discrimination is absolutely inhuman and calls for international criticism."

India's tsunami death toll Monday stood at 10,136 with 5,630 still missing and feared dead.

A senior government official strongly denied the AHRC findings saying India's relief efforts have been "appreciated" all over.

"We don't agree with this assessment," home ministry official Onkarmal Kedia said.

"There has been all round appreciation of the relief operations," he said.

"The government got going from day one. We evacuated thousands of people and relief supplies have gone by ships and planes to far off places, including many remote regions of the Andaman and Nicobar islands."

The rights body charged that relief material being distributed was less than that required.

Only eight kilos of rice and 12,000 rupees ($260) for house reconstruction is being given to each family in Pondicherry, it said.

In worst-affected Tamil Nadu state, where almost 8,000 people died, the amount of rice distributed per family was 60 kilograms and the amount paid for reconstruction was still just 8,000 rupees, the rights group said.

It further alleged that rice being distributed near Pondicherry University was infested with worms and unfit for human consumption.

The group highlighted the case of Kadapakuppam and Pattipulam areas of Kachipuram district in Tamil Nadu, where it said no relief had got through.

"Despite complaints by the villagers in these two places, no government officials or NGO have turned up to help the people now living in rubble."

India, which shunned foreign assistance to deal with the crisis, has claimed to be on top of the relief efforts, which are being personally monitored by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

It has dispatched over 4,000 troops to disaster areas, airdropped food and sent navy ships carrying tons of aid. It has also sent vessels to Indonesia, the Maldives and Sri Lanka besides announcing relief packages for Thailand.

A special crisis management cell has been set up to monitor relief measures.

Some aid agencies like the United Nations Children's agency UNICEF have lauded the government effort, especially with regard to the health situation. There have so far been no outbreaks of disease, as had been feared. (Wire reports)
[q/]

 

[Grunt03]

Go India, way to look out for your people, refuse help and assistance then f^CK up your own plan to save your people.

 

[athithi]

Originally posted by: CycloWizard

Originally posted by: BarneyFife
No. India was the one that was too arrogant to accept any donations from charities.

Apparently, India refused outside help because the tsunami hit their most precious military base. They don't want any foreigners on these islands to help out, so they shut out everyone. All this according to the Indian grad students here.

So what should they do? Risk the presence of foreign nationals around their most sensitive military bases? :roll: Did you even bother asking the Indian grad students for any evidence or references or were you too dizzy with happiness at getting a few stones to throw? Did you even wait to hear a counter-argument? In general, do you apply any standards of objectivity before passing judgement?

India was not too arrogant to accept foreign help. The relief supplies that India had on hand were not disbursed yet and additional supplies would just sit around and collect dust instead of reaching people in the other countries that could've used them. India is far from perfect - and even that's an understatement. But this sort of half-baked critiicism is pointless.

Kage69, I think you are overly influenced by dalitstan.org. Yes, untouchability is still practiced in India, but part of the problem is that the people leading the dalit organizations themselves prefer to keep the masses subjugated as it affords them a vote bank and mob-power. Nobody, not even the so called dalit-leaders, are truly interested in uplifting these people.

shrumpage, Christian missionaries in India are a whole different subject. From personal experience and first-hand knowledge, I *know* for a fact that quite a few such churches (not all) use the caste-system as a tool to beat Hinduism with to encourage religious conversion. The more people they convert, the more funds they receive from their overseas paymasters. Unfortunately, a large portion of this money goes into the pockets of the priests and other religious leaders. Without doubt, a lot of these Christian missionaries bring meaning, purpose and respectability into the lives of hundreds of thousands of Indians, including former Hindus. But that does not wash away the fact that they also use the caste-system boogeyman for convenience. I wouldn't tar a whole nation because of specific instances. No nation, not even the United States, would stand up to that kind of scrutiny.

What you guys don't hear or pretend not to hear are the countless positive stories that far outnumber these negative stories. It is a grave disservice to those wonderful men and women. Or would you prefer to hide behind the delusion that only Westerners can be magnimous and treat all humans as equal :roll:

I think some of you are just gleeful that India refused help and now people can find fault with its relief efforts. But in some ways I am pleased to see that you are judging India by the vastly superior standards of the U.S and most other advanced nations. Sure, India falls short, but atleast it is using the right scale of measurement.

 

[raildogg]

Originally posted by: Grunt03
Go India, way to look out for your people, refuse help and assistance then f^CK up your own plan to save your people.

umm thats a idiotic comment. India is at the forefront in delivering aid to many of these nations, as it deals with its own disaster. this is not a big thing

the originator of this thread exaggerated. maybe read the whole article

 

[athithi]

Originally posted by: raildogg

Originally posted by: Grunt03
Go India, way to look out for your people, refuse help and assistance then f^CK up your own plan to save your people.

umm thats a idiotic comment. India is at the forefront in delivering aid to many of these nations, as it deals with its own disaster. this is not a big thing

the originator of this thread exaggerated. maybe read the whole article

Heh 😱 I was guilty of that too...just saw this in the article:

Some aid agencies like the United Nations Children's agency UNICEF have lauded the government effort, especially with regard to the health situation. There have so far been no outbreaks of disease, as had been feared.

 

[CycloWizard]

Originally posted by: athithi
So what should they do? Risk the presence of foreign nationals around their most sensitive military bases? :roll: Did you even bother asking the Indian grad students for any evidence or references or were you too dizzy with happiness at getting a few stones to throw? Did you even wait to hear a counter-argument? In general, do you apply any standards of objectivity before passing judgement?

Um, if you don't mind me asking... What the hell is wrong with you? I give you information from people who have family in the immediate area and you crucify me for not trying to play the private investigator? Did I judge anyone at all, in any way, shape, or form in my previous post? No, I didn't even criticize anyone. I stated exactly what I was told. Not everyone is out to bash India, so try getting a grip before lynching me.

 

[athithi]

Originally posted by: CycloWizard
Um, if you don't mind me asking... What the hell is wrong with you? I give you information from people who have family in the immediate area and you crucify me for not trying to play the private investigator? Did I judge anyone at all, in any way, shape, or form in my previous post? No, I didn't even criticize anyone. I stated exactly what I was told. Not everyone is out to bash India, so try getting a grip before lynching me.

Surprised? Didn't expect anybody to challenge your mocking, misinformed post? A handful of questions and all of a sudden you are singing a different tune now! Just to jog your memory a bit:

Apparently, India refused outside help because the tsunami hit their most precious military base. They don't want any foreigners on these islands to help out, so they shut out everyone. All this according to the Indian grad students here.

I come from the city of Chennai in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. My parents and almost all my extended family lives there. As do all my wife's extended family. I lived there nearly all my life before moving to the U.S. I imagine I would have a half-decent idea about what's going on there. Oh, just for kicks - about 3 years back, my younger brother made a documentary called "Wood on Water" about the fisherfolk of Nochikuppam - a fishing village by the Marina Beach, right on the shores of Madras. These are people I have known since I was 7 years old when my parents were in the fish, shrimp and shark-fin export business. I *know* what I am talking about.

For a change people feel the government, at both the State and Centre, has made a genuine effort to handle this in the best manner possible. Of course, there are imperfections. But this thread is filled with people jumping to conclusions rather too hastily to be objective at all.

 

[Mungo Jerry]

How much money did this rights group give to help out? If it is anything less than $1 then they need to STFU.

 

[raildogg]

Originally posted by: Mungo Jerry
How much money did this rights group give to help out? If it is anything less than $1 then they need to STFU.

all these so called rights groups have their own agenda's. they should shut their hole during times of disaster, really disgusts me :disgust:

they need to look at the big picture, and the big picture is that India has done a great deal to help its own and other nations

 

[CycloWizard]

Originally posted by: athithi

Originally posted by: CycloWizard
Um, if you don't mind me asking... What the hell is wrong with you? I give you information from people who have family in the immediate area and you crucify me for not trying to play the private investigator? Did I judge anyone at all, in any way, shape, or form in my previous post? No, I didn't even criticize anyone. I stated exactly what I was told. Not everyone is out to bash India, so try getting a grip before lynching me.

Surprised? Didn't expect anybody to challenge your mocking, misinformed post? A handful of questions and all of a sudden you are singing a different tune now! Just to jog your memory a bit:

Apparently, India refused outside help because the tsunami hit their most precious military base. They don't want any foreigners on these islands to help out, so they shut out everyone. All this according to the Indian grad students here.

I come from the city of Chennai in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. My parents and almost all my extended family lives there. As do all my wife's extended family. I lived there nearly all my life before moving to the U.S. I imagine I would have a half-decent idea about what's going on there. Oh, just for kicks - about 3 years back, my younger brother made a documentary called "Wood on Water" about the fisherfolk of Nochikuppam - a fishing village by the Marina Beach, right on the shores of Madras. These are people I have known since I was 7 years old when my parents were in the fish, shrimp and shark-fin export business. I *know* what I am talking about.

For a change people feel the government, at both the State and Centre, has made a genuine effort to handle this in the best manner possible. Of course, there are imperfections. But this thread is filled with people jumping to conclusions rather too hastily to be objective at all.

You think you're the ONLY person this side of the Pacific that has family in India? Well, let me tell you something, chief. All three Indian grad students I've talked to here gave me the same story. Since I, and certainly they, have no interest in defaming India, I don't see why you would call me (and them and their families, by proxy) liars and mockers of India. My original post was neither mocking nor misinformed. Sorry if it trampled your ego that someone beat you to the punch and said something that could be considered disparaging about your homeland. You live in North Carolina, I live in Missouri. I don't see why the information from Carolinian Indians should be considered superior to that of Missourian Indians.

In other words, grow up and realize that no one is out to get you. Take your disparaging remarks and smoke them.

 

[athithi]

Originally posted by: CycloWizard

Originally posted by: athithi

Originally posted by: CycloWizard
Um, if you don't mind me asking... What the hell is wrong with you? I give you information from people who have family in the immediate area and you crucify me for not trying to play the private investigator? Did I judge anyone at all, in any way, shape, or form in my previous post? No, I didn't even criticize anyone. I stated exactly what I was told. Not everyone is out to bash India, so try getting a grip before lynching me.

Surprised? Didn't expect anybody to challenge your mocking, misinformed post? A handful of questions and all of a sudden you are singing a different tune now! Just to jog your memory a bit:

Apparently, India refused outside help because the tsunami hit their most precious military base. They don't want any foreigners on these islands to help out, so they shut out everyone. All this according to the Indian grad students here.

I come from the city of Chennai in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. My parents and almost all my extended family lives there. As do all my wife's extended family. I lived there nearly all my life before moving to the U.S. I imagine I would have a half-decent idea about what's going on there. Oh, just for kicks - about 3 years back, my younger brother made a documentary called "Wood on Water" about the fisherfolk of Nochikuppam - a fishing village by the Marina Beach, right on the shores of Madras. These are people I have known since I was 7 years old when my parents were in the fish, shrimp and shark-fin export business. I *know* what I am talking about.

For a change people feel the government, at both the State and Centre, has made a genuine effort to handle this in the best manner possible. Of course, there are imperfections. But this thread is filled with people jumping to conclusions rather too hastily to be objective at all.

You think you're the ONLY person this side of the Pacific that has family in India? Well, let me tell you something, chief. All three Indian grad students I've talked to here gave me the same story. Since I, and certainly they, have no interest in defaming India, I don't see why you would call me (and them and their families, by proxy) liars and mockers of India. My original post was neither mocking nor misinformed. Sorry if it trampled your ego that someone beat you to the punch and said something that could be considered disparaging about your homeland. You live in North Carolina, I live in Missouri. I don't see why the information from Carolinian Indians should be considered superior to that of Missourian Indians.

In other words, grow up and realize that no one is out to get you. Take your disparaging remarks and smoke them.

I'll give you points for trying hard...that much I will give you. You posted your ill-informed comments quoting BarneyFife's jibberish. And you still want to pretend that you added some innocuous inputs with nary a negative thought in your mind? :roll: I'll take back my remark calling you misinformed - to be precise, you were ill-informed. Being ill-informed is different from lying. A few more years and I am sure you will work that one out yourself.

You rushed to regurgitate information without pausing to process it and placed it in an environment where the context was unmistakably critical of India. I apologize if you found my reaction too strong. Perhaps next time you will exercise better judgement about posting information that you have not fully digested.

 

[Dari]

The Dravadians have it real bad over there. I guess it sucks to be black anywhere.

 

[Aimster]

uhm...

Although India probably made a mistake in not allowing AID into their country I don't see it as being "pathetic". Why didn't they allow AID into the country? 1 billion + people in a country that will most likely help their own if they need help. I bet you people rushed into that area with food, blankets, etc. It isn't like Indonesia who has trouble reaching parts hit by the Tsunami. Indonesia is a bunch of islands while India is not.

 

[CanOWorms]

Originally posted by: Aimster
uhm...

Although India probably made a mistake in not allowing AID into their country I don't see it as being "pathetic". Why didn't they allow AID into the country? 1 billion + people in a country that will most likely help their own if they need help. I bet you people rushed into that area with food, blankets, etc. It isn't like Indonesia who has trouble reaching parts hit by the Tsunami. Indonesia is a bunch of islands while India is not.

Some of the Indian territory that was hit are islands. They thought they could handle it themselves so that the aid resources could be used elsewhere that truly need it. They're providing support to other countries that have been hit, too.

 

[raildogg]

Originally posted by: Aimster
uhm...

Although India probably made a mistake in not allowing AID into their country I don't see it as being "pathetic". Why didn't they allow AID into the country? 1 billion + people in a country that will most likely help their own if they need help. I bet you people rushed into that area with food, blankets, etc. It isn't like Indonesia who has trouble reaching parts hit by the Tsunami. Indonesia is a bunch of islands while India is not.

the remote islands of India take longer to get to from India than it would take to get to China from India.

these islands are really far away, although India is rushing in supplies using its air force and navy. the good news is that the damage and death isnt as bad as previously though

 

[Aimster]

Originally posted by: CanOWorms

Originally posted by: Aimster
uhm...

Although India probably made a mistake in not allowing AID into their country I don't see it as being "pathetic". Why didn't they allow AID into the country? 1 billion + people in a country that will most likely help their own if they need help. I bet you people rushed into that area with food, blankets, etc. It isn't like Indonesia who has trouble reaching parts hit by the Tsunami. Indonesia is a bunch of islands while India is not.

Some of the Indian territory that was hit are islands. They thought they could handle it themselves so that the aid resources could be used elsewhere that truly need it. They're providing support to other countries that have been hit, too.

I didn't know that.

India has a very capable Navy, doesn't it? I doubt Indonesia/Sri Lanka and the other countries have a very established Navy. India's navy even includes a carrier (don't know if it is in service yet). They also have a large number of helicopters and other aircraft that can help.