In the aftermath of Cyclone Fani, the Odia community in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region are banding together to collect relief supplies and funds for their State, and Odisha Bhavan, in Vashi’s Sector 30 enclave of State bhavans, will be the main collection centre.

Such efforts are a government responsibility, says Rashmikant Mahapatra, a Belapur resident, and one of the core team, “But it is also a social responsibility. We always say, ‘government, government, but we must remember that we are also government.” There is no one organisation or government body coordinating it, he says; the efforts is across the community, and Odisha Bhavan has offered its premises as the base.

Odisha Bhavan’s assistant resident commissioner, Krupanidhi Biswal, says they want to support the effort as much as they can, but makes it clear that it is a Odia community effort. “We are providing space, but they are doing the collection and transportation. The most affected districts are Puri, Cuttack and Khurda, he says. “I have seen the super-cyclone in 1999. That was for about two hours. This was for about six hours, and the damage is heavy.”

Chief Minister’s Relief Fund

There isn’t a clear picture yet about what is exactly required, Mr. Mahapatra says, but given that it is the poorest members of the community who will be most affected, with their homes destroyed and livelihoods endangered, the focus is on goods that will help them rebuild: household supplies, sanitation products and toiletries, clothing. Another necessity will be medicines for the potential outbreaks of dysentery, cholera, fevers, dehydration. Several pharmaceutical have also got in touch about donating medicines. Food, he says, will most likely be provided by the government, but they will also accept long-lasting food items.

Accountability is very important, the volunteers say, and a register will be kept of all donations received. Mr. Mahapatra and Mr. Biswal both stress that the Odisha Chief Minister’s Relief Fund is the best way to donate funds directly.

The volunteer team is planning, for now, to send donated goods by trucks they will pay for. But are also examining the rail option, as soon as the lines are back in action. If airlines step forward to offer free freight, as they have done with past natural disasters, the volunteers will send urgent supplies like medicines by air. The goods will be sent to the Collectors in affected districts via the capital, Bhubaneshwar.

The outreach has just started, Mr. Mahapatra says. “We are reaching out across the community. There are around 20,000 Odia people in the Navi Mumbai area, and around three to four lakh in the Mumbai region. We have contacted about 1,000 to 1,500 people so far.” He is particularly pleased that there have been queries from concerned citizens who have no connection to the state. “This has happened in Mumbai every time any disaster happens.”