The second leg of the journey took the team to Budgam district where they passed through a number of villages including Kahnhama, Watmagam, Hanjibugh, Makhma Badran, Palpura, Magam, Hingh, Gumboora, Surish, Hanjiwara. Charkha office had been in touch with Hamraz throughout the process . The video footage of the the journey in Kupwara and Budgam was combined to create a full record of the trip and was sent to Char kha. This completed the ‘Survey’ phase which was the basis of organizing Charkha’s action plan for reaching relief to the quake struck people. Based on what they saw and heard by directly interacting with people in the affected areas, the team evolved a process for the Relief work. The Survey phase led to a planned intervention which would ensure speedy distribution of essential items according to people’s needs. The work had to be done amongst many odds. It was imperative that items reach the affected people in the shortest time possible in view of the deteriorating weather patterns and the conditions of roads . The possibility of tremors and after shocks needed to be factored in and the logistics of purchase, transport, distribution and delivery had to be planned accordingly.

Local women facing a grim scenario

Based on the Survey findings, 104 families in Kupwara district was identified as the ones most needing this Relief. A list of essential commodities was made into a Relief Kit including Rice, Dal(lentils), Tarpaulin, Thermocol sheets, Tea, Cooking Oil, Pressure Cooker, Blankets bales of cloth, utensils and Woollen clothing (Phirans). The quantities were estimated to be sufficient for a family of four for a period of four months. In Budgam district the needs were different. Here the people did not require food and other items of daily use. Their need was tin sheets and thermocol sheets to build temporary shelters in the freezing temperatures of a typical Kashmir winter. 42 families were identified , some were from Baramullah district.

Project Coordinator Hamraz during Survey of affected regions