Settlement at Katchal

(Event Timeline between June 2005 to Nov 2005 - Post Tsunami)Settlement at Katchal

'Japan Tikrey' Nicobari settlement

Nicobari Tribal Settlement:



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Nicobari youth being taught carpentry skills

SubCentre construction

(Event Timeline between June 2005 to Nov 2005 - Post Tsunami)

I was posted to Katchal ~6 months after Tsunami. Surprisingly there was no trace of any activity to start the construction of a Hospital or Health Sub centres.

When I enquired further with the Public Works Department (PWD) officials as to why there is no acitivity for a new Hospital building - the response which I got was something new of a kind. They said that it is no more the govt. machinery to construct the Hospital because one NGO has promised to do the task. Obviosly promise to make one Hospital in remote Tsunami affected area seems like is noble idea. Unfortunately the these NGO's believe in one mantra "Promise > Get media coverage > Forget it (Hmmm .. tasks are pending... who cares)".

 One NGO (i dont want to name) took there share and promised to construct a Hospital building  3 Subcentre were supposed to be contructed by a NGO.

Given below pictures tell the facts.

The NGO dumped some rusty white coloured sheets in June 2005.

SubCentre materials dumped

The NGO constructed the worst quality of building foundation (hmmm. should i call it foundation ??)

The cheap foundation

Almost half of the materials cannot be used for any purpose.
 

Quite substandard materials

Subcentre building materials dumped at another location (E-wall camp)

Last update : Till 2008 - there was no hospital - no subcentre building at katchal! [One temporary aluminium shed structure constructed by PWD was existing]

Friend @ Katchal

(Event Timeline between June 2005 to Nov 2005 - Post Tsunami)

This guy came from nowhere in the place we were staying at Katchal.

Doggy Pal

He would sit comfortably over the dashboard while i drived the vehicle.

Dog over the dashboard

The poor guy once got bitten by a water snake.

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Mildera - PHC Katchal

(Event Timeline between June 2005 to Nov 2005 - Post Tsunami)

Primary Health Centre was 'arranged' at Primary school building at Mildera - Katchal. Mildera village survived Tsunami because of its higher altitute from sea level.

Primary Health Centre Staff

The Hospital/Healthcare staff strength was sizable (30+) which included 1 Doctor (me), 2 Senior Pharmacists, 4 Trained Nurses, 1 ophthalmic Assistant, 1 Malaria Inspector, 2 ANMs and Support Staff.

Makeshift hospital @ school

Staff were living in tents, partly because there was no space inside the building and partly because of the frequent earthquakes. Tents were a good assurance that even if they fall on heads during the quakes, it never will be fatal.

The handfull of petty shops (less than 5 in total) were in Mildera, so even if there were lot of personal discomforts life was OK.

The makeshift Hospital Drug Store Room

To store the massive supply of medicines was trouble, Every available room was used to store medicines. The stock was good enough to support few thousands of people though Katchal had a meagre population of 1857 people!




The PHC Katchal (Primary school) Patient Ward