A Simple, Inexpensive Proposal for Facilitating the SIDR Victims

by Prof. Bijon B. Sarma

Introduction:

SIDR caused tremendous loss to Bangladesh and her people by causing (i) Destruction of part of the Sundarbans, (ii) Damage of huge properties belonging to the government, (iii) Deaths of over 3500 persons, (iv) Damage of vast properties belonging to numerous families etc.

The responsibility of the first two tasks, i.e. (i) Regeneration of the Sundarbans and (ii) Making good the damaged government properties goes on to the government and it is understood that the government would take proper steps to that effect. The people of the affected area are suffering tremendously due to the loss of their dear relatives and their extremely valuable properties. It is not still known how these victims would be compensated, or how they would feel safe in the coming days. The government's aid and people's benevolence would probably help them to survive for the time being, but it would not ensure any permanent solution to their problems, which is endless visit of hazards. Within in a few years there will be similar hazards (cyclonic storm associated with tidal bore) and the affected people would face similar fate. In the affected area, saving of immovable properties like crops, fish and trees from the raze of flood and wind is extremely difficult. However, in this age, when the government of Bangladesh is taking billion-dollar projects for the construction of fly-over, overhead mono-rails or underground rail lines for solving the traffic problem of a single city (i.e. Dhaka), its failure to save the lives and movable properties of the people of the affects area should be considered as unpardonable crime. And we all know, in spite of vast donations received from home and abroad our government, with its numerous past records of failure, is going to fail again in safeguarding the distressed people of the SIDR-affected area. Many a times, well planned endeavors do not come out successful mainly because those are done in the indirect way i.e. through via media. The money donated by the local or foreign agents usually are spend through some organizations like NGO's, government officials, elected persons of the local bodies etc. In almost all the cases such agents endeavor to spend the sum in ways that also satisfies their selfish interest. For arguments sake one may say, "All right, in that case the donors may avoid the middlemen and give the money directly to the victims. Would that solve the problem ?" The answer is "No". "Why ?" Because (i) It is not possible for the donors to reach all the victims directly, (ii) It is not possible to assess how much money various affected families would need and (iii) Even though the money thus spent would benefit the victims, it would not save them from similar hazards in future.

In such a situation, is there any method of utilizing the contributions, that might benefit them and at the same time, would save them from similar hazards in future ? In this article we shall address this question.

Measures for Saving Life and Movable Properties:

As a prelude to our proposal we shall mention hereunder some of the measures taken by the government for saving the life and movable properties of men from the raze of cyclone and tidal bore.

(i). USE OF BRICK BUILDING : The brick building (known also as, Pucca building) with reinforced concrete roof usually used as government office, hospitals, school, community building, house of affluent men etc. are used as shelter during cyclone and tidal bore. Mosques are not used for this purpose because womenfolk are not allowed to enter in such buildings. Such buildings are quite safe in cyclonic storm. In case of tidal bore men have been reported to have saved life and properties by erecting derricks or using the roof. Such structures with two floors are excellent for this purpose. As soon as there is any warning for cyclone or tidal bore, the volunteers from the Red Crescent or Disaster warning cell call people to take shelter in such buildings.

Disadvantages/Limitations : In spite of their suitability in disasters, most of the time men cannot or do not avail the opportunities for reasons like, (i) Such building may not be available in all areas, (ii) Men may be reluctant because accommodation inside may be inadequate, (iii) They may also be reluctant because they cannot take their hard-earned properties (including cattle) and (iv) Finally, they feel reluctant because they know, as soon as they would leave the house the vandals would take away their properties.

(ii). CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDING ON STILTS ( known as Cyclone centre) : Brick buildings constructed on stilts have been constructed at various locations in the affected area to be used as Cyclone shelters. Such shelters are better than the above mentioned brick buildings, where men can take shelter with some of their properties.

Disadvantages/Limitations : Some of the reasons why men cannot or do not avail the opportunities offered by cyclone shelters are : (i) Such building may not be available in all areas, (ii) Men may be reluctant because they cannot take their hard-earned properties (including cattle) and (iii) Finally, they feel reluctant because they know, as soon as they would leave their houses they would lose their properties.

(iii). CONSTRUCTION OF EARTH MOUND (known as KILLA) : High earth mound constructed at some locations in the coastal area save human life, properties and cattle in time of flood and tidal bore. Men can be safe here during storm if strong structures are constructed over the mound.

Disadvantages/Limitations : The disadvantages or limitations of the earth mound are : (i) These consume huge quantity of agricultural land, (ii) People may not find such mounds near their habitations, (iii) They may be reluctant because they cannot take their hard-earned properties and (iii) Finally, they feel reluctant because of the possibility of theft in their own houses in their absence.
DEDUCTIONS : From the above realities and experiences we can deduce that construction of two storied brick buildings in every locality or, preferably in every house is the ideal solution to save life and movable properties of the inhabitants.

HOW TO ENSURE TWO STORIED BUILDINGS FOR ALL : Above we have deduced that the surest and practical means of saving men's life and movable properties in is to construct "TWO-STORIED BRICK BUILDING FOR EACH FAMILY". One may look at this deduction as 'big imagination' and end up with 'dismay' because they know, at present more than ninety percent of the people of the affected area find it hard to construct houses even with corrugated iron sheet. It is impossible for the government or the donor agencies to finance all of them for construction of two storied brick buildings. And finally, even if any agency gives them this money, most of the inhabitants would spend the money for other purposes. In such a context we shall present our proposal that we have mentioned as "A simple, inexpensive proposal for facilitating the SIDR victims".

The proposal has been prepared on the facts that : (i) The major and most expensive component of a brick building is brick, and (ii) Given one facility, it is possible for the inhabitants of this area to get adequate bricks at no cost.

The soil of this area with its rich organic content is highly suitable for making bricks. All the members of a family (excluding the infants) can make bricks at their idle or leisure time, only if they can get the moulds and training. But they would like to do it only if they can find the "firing facility" in their own area. Definitely the job of firing would need some money. If the "firing authorities" introduce a system that the cost of firing may be paid through burnt bricks, then the inhabitants in reality can get bricks at no cost.

By making, drying and firing bricks in the above way the inhabitants would in fact "create new wealth" for themselves and for the country by using inexpensive material and their idle labor. It is difficult to assure "excellent quality" of these bricks, which is not even necessary. Because it is quite possible to construct the "survival house" of the inhabitants with medium-quality bricks. The inhabitants can procure bricks consecutively for a few years. After they have procured bricks to construct a say, minimum 12 feet long, 10 feet wide and 10 feet high room, they may procure some more. Then they can sell the excess bricks for procuring sand, cement and the cost of mason. Thus, it may be possible for the families to get such a room within a couple of years. For incentive and expediting the program the government may declare that as soon as one family would construct such a room, the government would give them corrugated iron sheet for its roofing.

PLAN OF HOUSE : The house should be constructed in a cumulative way, where they would start with one room only. Then they would add another to it. After construction of two or three rooms they may go for the construction of r.c.c. roof. Since there is no dearth of soil in the affected area and the members of the affected families have no dearth of idle or unused labor, it is easily possible for them to own two storied buildings in a cumulative way in a period of five, ten or fifteen years.

POSSIBLE ONLY IF: Yes, what has been narrated above is possible only if they can find the "firing facilities" in their own area. In such a context the government may take a program of establishing small size firing-kiln at suitable locations. It should be mentioned here that earlier the affluent people of this country used to burn bricks for their own use in the traditional way in a system, known as "Puzza system". It has similarity with the system the potters still use for firing clay pots. The raw materials used for making puzza are clay and some bricks. However, coal is the most essential fuel for its operation. Earlier expert puzza-builders and firing-men were available in the country. We do not know if they still exist or not. Whatever might be the case, the government has to take initiative in order to make the above program successful. The major programs the government would have to take up are the following :
(01) The government would declare to the people of the affected area that they would soon introduce 'firing of dried bricks' in their locality.
(02) They would train the people about brick-making and drying and give, sell or rent the brick-moulds.
(03) They government would (a) Establish or (b) Help to establish firing facilities in any of the following ways :

(a) ESTABLISHING (i.e. Cent percent responsibility) : The government would establish brick burning kilns at suitable locations at their own cost. The cost may might need would be for (i) Procuring about 1 acre of raised land, (ii) Construction of a tin-shed office, (iii) Storage space for dry bricks with arrangement for covering in inclement weather, (iv) Brick burning kiln or puzza, (v) Storage space for coal and other fuel, (vi) Storage space for burnt bricks etc. The government would maintain the incentive program, which is, giving roofing material for a 12X10X10 room per family as soon such a room is constructed.

(b) HELP TO ESTABLISH (i.e. to act as facilitator) : In case the government does not want to be involved in all the formalities of such a project they may act as facilitator in the following way : The government would declare that as soon if any private entrepreneur initiates such program in the affected area they would sanction them coal at reduced rate, provided that the entrepreneur would accept burnt bricks as cost of burning. With this they would have to continue also the incentive program, which is, giving roofing material for a brick-built room.

Conclusion:

With this we have come to the end of our proposal "A simple, inexpensive proposal for facilitating the SIDR victims. In this article we have mentioned how one family can own "ONE TWO-STORIED BRICK-BUILDING" at practically no cost. After SIDR the government has got or going to get vast amount of finance in order to rehabilitee them. We know they would formulate many large and small projects. We would request them to consider the above proposal also. The proposal involves extremely less cost and minimum formalities.

We know at present there are large brick burning kilns, which are producing billions of quality-bricks for building houses of the affluent people. We are aware about the criticism regarding their environment pollution also. We do not believe, the proposed small-size kilns would at all stand as their commercial competitor or would create pollution of any considerable parameter. And even if they create some, it should be ignored in view of the greater benefit such a project may give to millions of the poor and aggrieved people. In short we may mention that the " Simple, inexpensive proposal for facilitating the SIDR" has got among others the following excellent potentialities :

(01) Creation of wealth for the country by using inexpensive materials and idle labor.
(02) Creation of one brick-built room for each family (leading to two storied houses in the cumulative process)
(03) Creation of alternate job opportunities for the people and lessening their dependence on the treacherous forest and hazardous sea.

Being the representative of the people's republic of Bangladesh and thus shouldering the task of their welfare and safety, the government of Bangladesh needs to act intelligently and with adequate far-sight. Even though we did not notice such intentions in our government in the past, we hope the present Government would show significant difference. We are hopeful they would pay attention to my simple and inexpensive proposal. I believe, this small proposal has got the potentiality to ensure safer, better and brighter future for the people of the SIDR-affected region.