"Though our country is prone to disaster, we are not prepared. We don't think, and there is no mechanism or control room to direct relief. A centre or hub is necessary in Dehradun or Rishikesh to unload all the relief materials and then distribute it in a systematic manner; which would then be taken in smaller vehicles to remote areas and from there be passed on to volunteers who can reach the survivors," Anshu Gupta, founder director of NGO Goonj, told IANS.
Goonj has set up hubs in Guptkashi and Uttarkashi, from where trucks loaded with relief material travel up to a point. The aid is then loaded on to smaller vehicles that travel till the last motorable stretch before volunteers take up the responsibility, carrying it on their backs for four to five kilometres in mountainous terrain with the help of locals and gram pradhans (village heads) to reach the affected villagers.
"We believe in a long-term commitment. The initial few days was the rescue part and even then, tourists and pilgrims were the focus. The locals' livelihood which is dependent on pilgrims and tourism has been hit 100 percent. They need long-term care," Gupta said.
