As if the COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t enough! Last year, amidst a long lockdown, Cyclone Amphan wreaked havoc of disastrous proportions. One year down the line, as we were still counting the cost of Amphan while tackling the second wave of the pandemic, Cyclone Yaas decided to pay a visit. This time, as the cyclone raged through the border of Odisha and West Bengal, the flooding in its wake caused concern.

These natural disasters hurt the poor the most. The Sundarbans story is even more alarming. According to reports coming in, even concrete walls built to protect the islands yielded to Nature’s rage. There is gloomy news on the COVID-19 front also. Last year, the pandemic had stayed largely within the limits of the cities. This time it has spread to the villages and is affecting children as well.

Though the administration swung into action ahead of Cyclone Yaas and moved the people to storm shelters, there is now the danger of COVID-19 spreading faster. Physical distancing is impossible in storm shelters, and even a few hours’ at close quarters can help spread the pandemic.

Also, the people joined hands to protect property from the gale and the tidal waves. In such a fight, one cannot keep to the COVID-19 safety rules. The people fighting to survive are often trading their lives for the benefit of others. There are also stories of people trying to protect the embankments physically with their bodies acting as plugs. These acts of standing together in the face of adversity will inspire future generations.

One must also remember that the need to fight adversity together is true for the larger society as it’s true for any organization. If people survive, so do societies. If organizations survive, so do their stakeholders. Each organization works towards an objective. For example, in the microfinance industry, the organizations serve the cause of society by working towards alleviating poverty.

In the situation facing us, the microfinance industry will have a huge role to play. Lakhs of people face a huge challenge regaining their income streams from their enterprises. Economic rehabilitation will depend on their access to resources. The microfinance industry and organizations such as VFS have to join hands with the stakeholders to overcome disaster. It won’t be an easy task. Reaching out to the affected will itself be a Herculean task, as the cyclone has destroyed roads and dislocated people.

We face a challenge on two fronts: personal and social. Many of us have lost friends or family to the pandemic. There is hardly a family that COVID-19 has not touched. The cyclone has added a challenge. We will survive. We have to survive.

And I am sure we will do so by sticking together, joining hands to fight out bleakness and reposing trust in each other and emerge into the sun as winners.