#StoriesFromKoshi - Manoj Kumar Singh
"My father was the one who inspired me. He ensured that I attended school - sometimes through emotional words and sometimes with physical force. It was important for him that we all became educated citizens. It was because of him I was able to complete SLC. If not for him, I would be illiterate.
Some formal schooling helped me to navigate life. It taught me skills that I needed to venture into small businesses - from selling toys to running a shop and then a hotel. When COVID hit, I had to close my hotel and I only focused on my shop.
I have also always been involved in community work - mostly meteorology for almost a decade through various organizations. I have gauged rainfall in the past and currently, I am working as a caretaker for the Community Based Flood Early Warning System developed and installed here by ICIMOD.
The Gaagan river originated in the hills of the Chure range flowing downstream and eventually crossing into India. During monsoons and at times when the river behaves erratically, it inundates half a dozen villages including ours. Kamalabari, Behli, Parma, Babubarahi, and other villages in Madhubani District in India are heaving affected. Tulsupur, Aurahi, Kundalpur, Deuripatti, Itatar, Kamalpur, Darahiya, and Bariyarpatti in the Sarah District here are some of the communities that face heavy damage.
Once the water lever breaches and the alarm goes off I start making calls and sending messages without any delay. To ensure that mobile networks are available during such emergencies, I use both the Ncell and the NTC mobile sim. If one has no coverage, I can always use the other one so that there is no time loss in relaying this message. You see my alert saves lives so I cannot compromise in taking quick actions.
We ensure that people who live and work alongside the river banks are informed first. We also ensure that children who take castles to graze are not left behind. At the same time, others are also informed of the incoming flood. This is all done in coordination with the police and local representatives.
Two or three years ago there was a massive flooding in the area and people still live with the trauma. If there is a heavy downpour, I still get calls from Itatar and Kamalpur asking me if the flood will be as devastating as the one 2-3 years ago.
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Our neighbors in India praise this early warning system and it works for both countries. They understand that the rivers are free of borders, unlike humans. Everyone has faith in this system. They have seen it save lives."
Manoj Kumar Singh, Sukhipur Municipality-7, Balhi
This story series, created in collaboration with Stories of Nepal, showcases how communities in the Koshi River Basin are being impacted by #ClimateChange .
The stories document the plights, challenges, and tremendous resilience of communities in adapting to climate change impacts, particularly on the issues of #water resource management and #DisasterRiskReduction Bihar, #India and Dhankuta, Nepal..
We hope these stories raise awareness and call for urgent action on climate change adaptation from stakeholders in #Nepal and beyond.