A Brief Overview Of Earthquake Relief Activities

Following the news of Earth quake in Gujarat on 26th January, 2001, Revered Dada J.P. Vaswani summons a meeting of Sadhu Vaswani Mission Managing Committee on 27th January, 2001 where it is decided to adopt the Tri city of Adipur, Gandhidham and Kandla as focal point for Earthquake Relief Operations.

A large team of Senior Surgeons and doctors, with huge quantities of essential medical equipments and supplies airlifted to Kutch on the 28th January, 2001. The team commenced its work the very next day in city of Adipur/Gandhidham.

Revered Dada J.P. Vaswani personally visits Tri city on the 30th of January, 2001. He visits various earthquake affected areas, and even manages to visit each and every medical facility in Tri city taking time to meet and bless each and every patient at these facilities.

Deeply moved by the suffering in the area, Dada personally guided a team of senior professionals to oversee the proposed relief operations in the area on war footings.

Mission decides upon its detailed strategy, comprising of 5 major areas:

1.  Medical Relief

2.  Materials Relief

3.  Repairs Relief

4.  Individual Relief

5.  Rehabilitation Relief (Housing Schemes)

Brief details for work in each of above areas is enclosed herewith.

1. MEDICAL RELIEF:

A full fledged hospital under the Banner of "Sadhu Vaswani Earthquake Relief Hospital" with over 100 beds capacity becomes functional from 30th January, 2001 by converting Hotel Mid-Town in Adipur into a large hospital with 2 Operation Theatres, 2 X-ray Rooms, Laboratory, ICU, Blood Bank and other essential facilities.

27 doctors from Pune, and some from other cities in India and abroad joined hands to work around the clock and perform hundreds of surgeries and render all types of medical duties. All services were totally free. The hospital was visited and admired by the best and most professional medical facility in the region.

2. MATERIAL RELIEF:

A very large team of over 50 volunteers from India and abroad help distribute huge supplies of food grains, utensils, drinking water, blankets, tents, medicines and other essential supplies far and wide in some of the remotest villages all across Kutch, to thousands of families. Dozens of trucks of supplies were sent to Kutch from Pune and other offices of Sadhu Vaswani Mission all over India.

3. REPAIRS RELIEF:

Within a week of the Earthquake a team of over a dozen Engineers arrives in the Tri city to survey and estimate the badly affected / partly damaged buildings.

Financial Assistance amounting to over Rs.40 lakhs provided to those who need help with repairing their existing houses. A team of engineers under renowned Structural Consultants from Mumbai sent to Tri city for training and technical assistance to the local Contractors, as well as to the local population.

4. INDIVIDUAL RELIEF:

In addition to Medical, Material and Repair Relief given to many, cash financial aid in areas of education and resettling of business activities was also given to many on case to case basis. A team of volunteers surveyed a large number of houses for rehabilitation needs to help put many back on tracks os livelihood. This work continues unabated till date.

5. A. HOUSING SCHEMES (Completed):

• Around 2,700 houses have collapsed in the Tri city alone.

• In Phase I, the Mission has constructed 244 Earthquake resistant, well designed houses, each having a Hall, 2 Bedrooms, Kitchen and Toilet etc.

• Plot area per house: 750 sq. ft., Built up area at the Ground Floor: 500 sq. ft.

• Provision for additional floor already incorporated in the design, for immediate or future expansion.

• Cost per house restricted to approximately US $ 5,000/-per unit since work was carried out departmentally in an exceptionally cost efficient manner while US $ 3,000/- was Alotttee’s Contribution (aid received from the Government) as sum of US $ 2,000/- was contributed by Sadhu Vaswani Mission through Donors.

• A land admeasuring 7 acres in a prime location was acquired from Sindhi Resettlement Corporation at concessional rate.

• Construction work completed on war footings. On an average 3 houses were completed in every 2 days.

• The housing complex was Inaugurated at a glittering ceremony on 5th November, 2001 at the holy hands of Revered Dada J.P. Vaswani at a function presided by Shri. L.K. Advani, Hon’ble Union Home Minister of India. Many other Ministers and dignitaries were also present.

5 B. HOUSING SCHEMES (In Pipeline):

• Drawings for construction of 90 tenements each of 300 to 320 sq. ft. in the city of Adipur, Gandhidham are being submitted to authorities very shortly. The work is expected to be started by end of November, 2001 and completed in 4 months time.

• Construction of 100 independent houses of 400 sq. ft. area each for Earthquake victims in city of Morvi approved in principle and will commence shortly.

• Construction of 70 more houses each admeasuring about 300 to 320 sq. ft. in city of Rajkot approved in principle.

• Construction of 200 more houses each measuring about 300 to 320 sq. ft. in various earthquake hit cities in Saurashtra under active consideration.