Editorial
Chief Adviser's address
The nation should be galvanised to meet exigency
The Chief Adviser in his address to the nation laid emphasis on the need for making concerted and determined efforts to cope with the critical situation that has arisen, following the devastation caused by Thursday's cyclone in the southern region.
The political parties, which have a wide network of public contacts, with the major ones having organisational links to the grassroots, are naturally capable of reaching out to the people in their hour of distress. Whichever way one looks at the overall challenge of getting timely succour to the afflicted, it basically boils down to the local administration, the Union Parishad and members of the local units of political parties to join hands at ground level to make a difference in the situation. The authorities have to make sure that even unwittingly no impediment is placed in the humanitarian work of the political parties.
The government alone cannot accomplish the huge task of rehabilitating the survivors. So, the role of the NGOs, political parties and all other voluntary organisations in helping the survivors start life anew is going to be crucial. Similarly, the business community should respond to the Chief Adviser's call and do their bit in keeping the prices under control. Serving the people should be the spirit overshadowing all other considerations in a situation like this.
Such moments of tribulation are a test for the nation's resilience to pick up threads of life and forge ahead despite the terrible battering that the southern region of the country took during that long night. The scars will take time to heal, given our limited resources and other constraints. But the more relevant question is whether we are trying our best to protect the survivors from the pangs of hunger and thirst or doing enough to keep their morale high. These are the people who overcame the fury of nature many times in the past and we are pretty much confident that this time around also they will come out victorious.
We believe the army chief's words that nobody will be allowed to die from starvation or lack of medical care, reflects confidence in the good work being done on the relief and rehabilitation front, including the specialised job done by the armed forces. Now all must join their hands and contribute their mite to alleviate sufferings of the people.
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