North Karnataka was hit by severe floods in the months of September and early October. The flood devastated 15 districts and has left over 192 people dead and 17.8 million people are estimated to have been affected by the floods and 2 lakh homes destroyed, as per state government records.
A catastrophe of this magnitude necessitates large scale relief activities. Ujjivan decided to do its bit by offering to contribute a sum equivalent to the contribution of all Ujjivan employees. Several Ujjivan employees contributed to the flood relief activities through one-day salary donations and personal monetary contributions. Contributions were made by employees cutting across regions and at different levels of the organization. The amount contributed by Ujjivan employees was Rs. 3,95,048. This amount was matched by Ujjivan, taking the total contribution towards flood relief to Rs. 7,90,096.
Ujjivan operates 19 branches across 8 districts of North and Central Karnataka. As operations are focused only on urban and semi-urban areas, the effect of the floods on Ujjivan customers and field staff was limited. However, some of Ujjivan’s field staffs and their families suffered significant monetary losses as both their dwellings and farm lands (crops) had been destroyed. Senior members of the Ujjivan North Karnataka team, led by the Distribution Manager Jagdeesh Begur, visited the affected staff and spoke to the families. It was seen that three Ujjivan staff were badly affected: Yenkanna from Mudhol, Bheemappa and Yellappa from Gadag. While Bheemappa and Yellappa were awarded with monetary relief at the CRS representative meeting at Hubli on 5th December, 2009, Yenkanna would be provided support to rebuild his home and the cost of the rebuilding exercise is being assessed.
Bheemappa hails from a village in Gadag district of North Karnataka and the entire village was washed away by the floods. His family has lost their house and their crops of Jowar and Sunflower have been completely destroyed, rendering them homeless and without a source of income. But he says there is hope in sight as his village has been adopted by the Pejawar Mutt, a religious institution engaged in relief activities. The whole village is being resettled at a new location as the old village is still inundated and unsuitable for habitation. Ujjivan has provided him with monetary relief to tide over this period of crisis, until he is able to relocate and start from scratch at the resettled location.
Yellappa, also from Gadag, was badly affected by the floods. With both the Chilly and Cotton crops, on his family land being washed away. He estimates that his family has lost over Rs. 1,00,000 due to this natural calamity. He attended the event with his father to receive the relief amount.
All of them expressed their gratitude to Ujjivan employees and the organization. They were touched by the fact that Ujjivan employees from all corners of India empathized with the people of North Karnataka and contributed to the relief efforts. They said they are proud to be part of the Ujjivan family, where every member is willing to help the other, when the need arises.
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