Reducing winter related distresses
Sometimes hard
winter invades the country in the form of a disaster. The disaster management ministry of the government should spring into action and take extensive measures to alleviate the sufferings
of the poor during a
harsh winter
Winter season is creeping in. Its arrival is being felt from the touch of chill early in the morning. With the beginning of January winters severity is likely to be felt more acutely. For the people belonging to affluent sections of society the season is welcome for the comforts it otherwise provides. But for the ones living a life of abject poverty it comes as a season of sufferings specially when it turns harsh. Impoverished people living in rural areas, particularly those in North Bengal, usually bear the brunt of harsh winters. Although number of poor people has decreased considerably in rural areas in recent years due to poverty eradication programme taken up by the government and some NGOs, yet a large number of people are still suffering the pangs of poverty.
Warm clothes, quilts and blankets are needed to keep cold wave at bay. But many are found left out of possession of the same. The huts, shacks and thatched tiny houses that provide shelter to these very poor people are vulnerable to cold wave as they are to storms and rains. Thousands of poor people dwell in towns and cities, many rootless ones are forced to sleep on pavements. But they do not feel the pangs of cold as severely as the rural poor do. Brick and concrete structures and tall buildings in towns and cities neutralize cold wave greatly.
Sometimes hard winter invades the country in the form of disaster. It almost paralyses life. Deaths also occur due to alarming fall in temperature. If strong dwelling houses and necessary warm clothes are available the poor ones would be in a position to feel not so distressed. Thus, there should be some preparations to face the bites of winter. Under the circumstances, the government and the private organisations like NGOs can come forward to aid the impoverished ones. They can help the poor people build strong houses and buy necessary apparels to face the cold.
The disaster management ministry of the government should spring into action and take extensive measures to alleviate the sufferings of the poor during a harsh winter. There should be also provisions for loans on easy terms and conditions for the poor so that they can repair and improve their dwelling houses before the onset of winter.
