Relief and rescue workers
Israeli NGO ‘Heroes for Life’ volunteers in Kathmandu Valley sc...
When the earth shook on April 25, most of us were reduced to cowering cowards, running hither and thither to save our lives. If we thought about others at all, our concerns were limited to our immediate family members. But even in those desperate times there were a few brave souls who dared to think about other earthquake victims, the less fortunate ones who were injured, who had lost their family members or those who were badly trapped in the rubble. Even as the ground beneath them continued to rumble, these early-responders were up and running, rescuing trapped people, arranging for excavators and ambulances, and visiting hospitals to help out overwhelmed medical personnel. In many cases this meant putting their own lives at risk. Among these brave hearts were personnel from Nepal Army, Nepali Police and Armed Police Force, as well as many individuals and organizations that volunteered in search and rescue unbidden.
These are our real heroes and they deserve to be better recognized. We are thus happy that the Cabinet's Infrastructure Committee on Sunday formed a panel to identify the civil servants, organizations and individuals who have made outstanding contribution in search, relief and rescue operations.
Some rescuers died in the process. In a country where the idea of martyrdom has come to be ridiculed, these people could restore some dignity to the term. Indeed, aren't these are our real martyrs? Other rescue workers remain obscure despite their heroic deeds. These brave men and women deserve to be recognized, and not just to honor their noble efforts. Their recognition could inspire other people to overcome their pretty personal interests and to work for the greater good of the society. This is important because despite lofty claims of the helpful nature of Nepalis, we are not a very caring people. Every year, hundreds of homeless people shiver to death in the chilly winter months. But when we pass these homeless people on the street, the most common response is to turn the other way. Or we try to salve our conscience with the self-serving excuse that since no one else is coming forward to help them, why should we bother as well? Even after the twin earthquakes, there have been reports of a select group of people hoarding all relief materials. Some victim families in Sindhupalchowk are claiming relief even in the name of their dead. Little do they seem to care that their greed could be disastrous for another victim family which has lost everything.
That is precisely why those few who dared to rise above their pretty concerns need to be recognized—and not just by the government. We hope that the panel set by the Cabinet on Sunday can properly identify all those individuals and organizations. They should be our role models as we go about building a New Nepal. If our political leadership is even half as committed to the safety and wellbeing of their electorate, we could soon have a viable constitution and the country will be able to chart out a common path for inclusive rebuilding, growth and development.
