Distribution of relief materials from the main collection centre to relief camps during disaster often results in disorder and mismatch between requirements and supply. Incidences of misappropriation and mismanagement are also not uncommon as urgency overrules accountability and transparency.
When a few young software professionals from Faircode, Kochi-based solution company entered the Wayanad District Collectorate in response to devastating landslides that had hit the area with technology supported Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) inventory management systems, they set off with data entry of all stocks at the main collection centre. ERP system streamlined the flow of relief materials into camps and enhanced their transparency by having a live public dashboard which can be used as a reference point by those willing to help.
Four important pieces of information
The public library provides four important pieces of information. Namely, how much material came in, how much remains, what is needed urgently and everything else being disposed off this minute.
“This seamlessly covers transparency while enabling potential donors to offer most urgently required but scarce materials at any given time. Wayanad’s 93 camp coordinators who are revenue officials will be able to see all this too,” explains Rajith Ramachandran, the CTO of Faircode.
However unlikely it may sound, sometimes relief camps may require something like noodles. For example if one among them knows that there are children in the camp who love instant noodle packets available with stores at central collection points of such supplies then he/she can place this kind of order . Moreover every donation is itemized for real-time checking by contributors .
You could also check what items were most urgently required as at today for instance through their website https://inventory.wyd.faircode.co/stock_inventory Here are three items that were highly wanted on Saturday 02:32 pm; 500 sweaters’ packets, 271 yawning powder bags plus 167 mats for those people who have been kept in these camps where they sleep Therefore stock inventory can also be checked through the URL https://inventory.wyd.faircode.co/stock_inventory.
“This project was perhaps our fastest ever to complete and we have delivered it successfully. Right now, we are looking towards adding more search functionalities for the general public,” says Naveen George, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Faircode.
Those affected by landslides might remain in camps for an extended period whereby ERP may be used as a relief materials distribution tool through that period. This project involves four data entry operators plus a team from Faircode Technologies and revenue officials.