Hurricane Sidr: Eyes on relief, no heart for work

Trackback URL

Download PDF

While there is an acute lack of work in many places, there are allegations that labourers are foregoing the little work available, preferring to queue for hours to receive relief materials instead.

Since the distribution of relief materials began in the Sidr-hit southern districts, many low-income people now spend time and effort to receive relief goods rather than look for work.

This has resulted in a scarcity of day-labourers, rickshawpullers and domestic help in the region, especially in the less affected areas.

Many farmers who need to harvest their IRRI fields now say that it’s become a problem to find day labourers to work for them. The scarcity of labourers has also led to an increase in the cost of their services.

“You could get a labourer for Tk 100-150 and a meal a day before the cyclone, now they charge between Tk 250 to 300 for the same,” said Forman Ali, a farmer of Kolapara Sadar.

Though the IRRI was due for harvest about two weeks ago, farmers who have not lost all their crops have not yet been able to reap what remains in their fields due to this crisis.

This problem is evident in all nine unions of Kolapara.

Badal Saha, a grocer on Sadar Road in Kolapara, said, “After relief distribution began two of my employees - who used to carry goods from my shop to trawlers - have stopped turning up. Now I have to hire labourers which also charge me more for their services.”

Locals allege that Nachnapara, Itbaria, Ferryghat, College Road and Badurtoli in Kolapara are the places where poor people crowd to seek relief items.

Since road communications have resumed to some extent, the distribution of relief goods such as dry food, food grains, pulses, edible oil, soap, candle, blanket, clothing and utensils have been continuing steadily.

Locals allege that irrespective of whether the cyclone has damaged their homesteads or not, many day-labourers and rickshawpullers from different upazilas of Patuakhali and Barguna are now crowding relief shelters for relief goods.

Labourers from Patuakhali Sadar upazila can be found crowding Char Matibhanga, Titkata and Fultala.

There were around 500 rickshaws running in and around Kolapara upazila, the number has dropped to less than a 100 now. This has led to a hike in rickshaw fares, the fare from Kolapara bus stand to the UNO office having increased from Tk 8 to Tk 12-15.

Abdur Rashid, a poor rickshawpuller in Khepupara, said, “I cannot earn more than Tk 120-140 if I work the whole day. Many like me prefer queuing instyead for a pack of relief goods with items worth Tk 350 to 500.”

The same situation prevails in Patuakhali town.

Local reporters say the poorer section of people sometimes also sell the relief goods they receive, for cash, among villagers in different areas.

Leave a Reply