Thread by @TheIndiaanMonk

Assam Floods: who cares?

* 68 people died.
* More than 34 lakhs people affected across 30 districts.
* As many as 487 relief camps have been set up in which over 1.25 lakh people have taken shelter.
* 66 animals die in Kaziranga National park.

#AssamNeedsHelp
#prayforassam

It’s been months since floods are wreaking havoc in Assam. And this is not the first time, every year Assam faces the same crisis and reamains unheard.

If a similar situation happened in any other state, the govt. and the media took no time in declaring it a national calamity.

Compare it with the coverage Mumbai or Delhi’s waterlogging gets in prime time news. Even a puddle of water in Mumbai is enough to make to the front pages or prime time.

Every time Kashmir goes under water or Uttarakhand is ravaged by rain, a battery of reporters is lined up for special coverage from ground zero, prompting people from Assam to ask a pertinent question: “Are we lesser mortals?”

It is not that people from the state are craving for media attention or wanting to hog the headlines. But it is also true that there should be a fair balance in reportage and that adequate media coverage also forces the government to sit up and take note.

Making the situation worse is the blame game between the state and central governments over flood relief. While the Centre says adequate money has been sent, the state claims even last year’s funds have not been fully disbursed.

As always, sandwiched in the middle are the people of Assam who have to bear the brunt of the floods year after year. The media & the governments merrily choose to ignore their plight year after year after year.

#AssamIsDrowning
#NorthEastMatters
#AssamFloods2020
@VoiceOfAxom