Soriya Banu, a Community Correspondent with Video Volunteers, is the only earning member of her family of four and is employed at a local NGO where she conducts First Aid Training and works on health care literacy and access. Soriya uses her tools as a Community Correspondent to bring impact to issues ranging from road conditions and water contamination, from…

Soriya Banu

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An entire village in Malda district of West Bengal was submerged in the 1998 floods. 17 years later, the people have not been given proper homes to stay.

- There was no water here, there were houses.
- Where are the houses?
- No houses are left. They were all submerged.
- How many shanties were here?
- Many - there was an entire village here.

In Malda district of West Bengal, Kallachak block 2, Bangitola of Panchanandapur was submerged. Since then, the slum dwellers are living in a new slum set up by the Public Works Department at Babla. There are almost 4000 people residing there since 1998. For nearly 17 years now, they have been suffering. This problem has become worse day by day because of government negligence.

- For how many years has this problem been going on?
- Since the flood of 1998.
- How many people are suffering from this problem?
- Almost 4000 people. If the government helps us, we'll go away from here.

Erosion of the river banks has forced over 4000 people tp live in shanties built by the PWD at Babla. They are living in so much trouble. All the land has been ruined by the river. being hopeless and homeless, they've made the PWD slum their home.

When I asked the Block Development Officer that 'why do people live on PWD land at Babla?', all he could muster were the words, 'no comments'.

Proper housing must be provided to the residents of Panchanandapur at any cost.

My request to all who are watching this video is to please call Mamum Akhtar, Block Development officer of Kaliachak on 9434738482 and urge him to find a solution.

I am Soriya Banu reporting from Malda, West Bengal for IndiaUnheard.