Post Yaas
West Bengal
Post-Yaas Sunderbans presents a very sorry picture, with many desperate for basics such as food, water, and shelter. Another crisis has reared its ugly head, as thousands of Madhyamik and Higher Secondary(HS) examinees have lost their textbooks and other study material weeks before the examinations.
Educators fear that this may force several students to drop out of formal education altogether. Many residents were forced to leave their homes in a hurry as the ravaging storm broke embankments and the rivers flooded their houses, destroying everything in its path.
Books and stationery were easy casualties. A day after the cyclone, the West Bengal government announced that Madhyamik and Higher Secondary examinations will be conducted in the second week of August and the last week of July respectively.
Many people from the Sunderbans had lost their jobs during the pandemic. The cyclone has damaged their morale further, with many youngsters considering taking up small jobs to support their families instead of continuing with their studies.
Even those who have managed to save their study material have lost their homes. Academics seem like a luxury to them now. Many NGOs are on the ground providing relief to those affected by the cyclone. One such NGO, Mukti, is working to provide a safe and secure environment for the students to continue their studies.
They are also arranging second-hand books for those who need them. According to government estimates, around 15,000 Madhyamik and Higher Secondary students appear for the examinations from the cyclone-hit areas such as Patharpratima, Namkhana, Kakdwip, and Gosaba in the Sunderbans.
Admitting that the crisis is indeed serious, state officials have started conducting surveys across villages to ascertain the number of affected students. The primary priority now is to ensure that students have access to a stable electricity connection to ensure they can continue their studies at night.
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Source: TOI
Update by Indranuj Ray