Author:
Publication: Shree Vishwa Niketan
Date: February 16, 2001
Despite yeoman effort by one and
all rendering assistance to affected people, lot is yet to be done. It
is unfortunate that some of the English Newspapers have not been able to
overcome their hate bias against all that RSS & VHP does. While acknowledging
the good work which has been done by RSS and VHP from so to say zero hour
onwards, they publish unconfirmed, irresponsible and downright sinful (as
Smt. Sushma Swaraj, Minister of Information and Broadcasting puts it) opinions
with a view to damage their reputation. While papers like 'India Today'
explicitly say that RSS & VHP volunteers have been distributing relief
material and rendering help to one and all irrespective of their religion
or caste etc. In fact our volunteers do riot ask any questions, but just
render whatever help is needed by the Earthquake sufferers. Some Christian
Missionaries have also joined hands with them. However our Swayamsevaks
are unaffected by, this motivated smear campaign, for they know direct
from the people how they appreciate their selfless effort. It is proposed
to clamp a defamation case against major offenders like 'Hindu' Daily.
Some paper cuttings describing the ongoing relief work are reproduced elsewhere
in this Samvad.
Dr. Yashwant Pathak, Sah-Sanyojak
Vishwa Vibhag, Shri Shyam Parande, Secretary Sewa International Delhi and
Shri A.L.Sharma of Sewa International UK visited earthquake areas of Bhuj
and Ahmedabad recently (5th to 7th, February 2001) Their firsthand report
of work going on there is reproduced.
The Report: The worst ever earthquake
struck the state of Gujarat on 26th January killing more than 35000 people
and devastating property worth Billions of Rupees. Most parts of the Kutch
district were ruined by the killer quake that occurred while the nation
was celebrating Republic Day on-26th January at 8.46 AM.
It is indisputably impossible to
fathom the import of the training being imparted to the Swayamsevaks through
RSS shakhas. Challenges faced during the natural or other calamities provide
the right testing ground for the thus trained Swayamsevaks. The disaster
management skills exhibited by the Swayamsevaks and Karyakartas during
the most difficult and painful hours in Gujarat right after the dreadful
tremors, is an excellent case in study.
Swayamsevaks in Radhanpur- the doorway
to Kutch district from the north-received the information when people brought
in a badly injured
Person at 10-30 AM. All the Doctors
in the town were immediately contacted and invited to the Government hospital
which itself was damaged. A medical camp was organized outside the hospital
at 12.00 AM and all the Doctors started marathon working as more cases
arrived. They even contacted the Depot manager of the Road Transport Corporation
requesting him to send as many buses possible to the affected areas to
carry back the patients, a batch of 6 Swayamsevaks was also sent with each
bus. 500 People were served lunch at 1-00 PM. Villages which were not damaged
were asked to send food daily for the relief camp, each village sending
on a particular day. Milk flowed in such large quantity that they could
not consume the same on the day. The team of Doctors was not sufficient
to deal with the number of inured coming in. Swayamsevaks decided to send
them to other towns like Patan, Deesa, Mehsana, Unjha, Palanpur, etc. While
we visited the medical camp in Radhanpur on 5th February at 10=30 PM we
were surprised to find all the Doctors doing their routine. Leading the
team was Dr. Naulakha, Superintendent of the Government Hospital.
Rapar is the Tehsil, which has borders
with Pakistan on one side while Rajasthan on the other. This is one of
the strategically important Tehsil. In this Tehsil 661 deaths have been
recorded and 11000 injured have been provided medical treatment. The camp
here started on 27th January and by that night more than 50 truckloads
of relief material was distributed in the Tehsil. On 29th, 62 truckloads
of material were dispatched to 97 villages. State Vice President of BJP
Shri Suresh Bhai Gandhi is in charge of the relief camp here. 500 Swayamsevaks
are engaged in the relief activity since then. 1000 people were fed daily
for a week initially but 7 other organisations were awarded the activity
after that. These organisations are feeding 15000 people daily till this
date. A free supplies center has been established in the town for those
who need the ration.
The relief operation was launched
on 26 January itself in Bhachau; the worst affected town of Kutch. 50 Swayamsevaks
from the adjoining village Kotda started the relief within and hour of
the devastation. The devastation is so complete in this Tehsil, that all
the 71 villages in this unit have been devastated completely. Not a single
house stands in this Tehsil that can be inhabited. 11000 people have been
killed in this Tehsil out of a population of 1,50,000. It is almost impossible
to determine the number of the injured in this Tehsil. Swayamsevaks extracted
800 bodies from the debris and saved at least 50 lives from the rubble.
There is a possibility of recovering some more bodies in this Tehsil. Nearly
10000 Swayamsevaks are engaged in the rescue & relief activity in tills
Tehsil out which 5000 are directly working in the field while others are
engaged in the relief camps. Packed food was provided for first three days
to the survivors but was given up as other organisations also joined to
serve food. 28 other organisations like Swaminarayana, Gayatri parivar,
many Jam organisations, Lions Club, Rotary Club, Shiv Sena, Congress Party
and other are serving in this Tehsil.
Jilla Sanghchalak Shri Champakbhai
Kansara is a resident of the Bhachau town. His house stands totally devastated.
Though he lost his elder daughter doing Post Graduation and his younger
daughter is injured, Champakbhai is at the forefront of the relief activity.
There is life after devastation.
This was amply proved when a lady delivered a baby boy in VHP hospital
at Bhachau. The boy has been named 'Shibir' as he is born in a Shibir.
Another baby girl was born the next day and she is named 'Dharati' by the
Swayamsevaks as she is born after the Dharatikamp (earthquake).
One of the worst affected towns
was Anjaar Swayamsevaks in Anjaar gathered together within half and hour
of tile quake and chalked out plan to survey the damage done by the quake.
Some of them remained in the town while some others were asked to visit
the adjoining villages and come back with the first hand 'Information as
early as possible. The relief work in Anjaar was so effective that the
first Indian Air Force team stayed for a day in the RSS relief camp.
Right when Swayamsevaks in places
like Radhanpur, Bhachau, Anjaar and other places were planning to serve
the affected, the state headquarter in Ahmedabad got busy with planning
the immediate relief though Kshetra Pracharak and Prant Pracharak were
on tour. Chairman of State Transport Corporation was requested to send
buses to the affected areas. The Chairman obliged and team of Swayamsevaks
with food packets and other first aid rushed to the districts. A team of
Swayamsevaks also launched relief operation in Ahmedabad City itself as
some parts of the city were badly damaged. Shri Narayanbhai Meghani led
the rescue operation inane city. Apart from rescue & relief, Swayamsevaks
had to manage many other operations like receiving some of the rescue teams
from abroad. A TV channel was providing people with Helpline to send help
for the earthquake and when contacted gave the telephone number of RSS
Vadodara Karyalaya- 338000/358090. We can go on quoting such instances
in almost alone places where RSS shakhas were active. However a question
hounds one's mind that what inspired all these Swayamsevaks to launch the
rescue operation so instantly? Who commanded them to serve the affected
while their own houses were damaged or their kith and kill also had suffered?
Rest of the people were just shell shocked and dumbstruck to witness the
devastation. While Swayamsevaks visited the villages to get the first hand
information, they were advised by the survivors not to enter the villages
as more quakes were feared. This did not deter them from going in to the
villages and inspiring others to join them.
Whether the media tries to hide
the truth or distort it, all those whom we talked to during the tour had
only praise for the Swayamsevaks who rushed in to help them in time with
all that was possible. Swayamsevaks were the first to reach the villages
or towns providing them with succour. We could talk to the affected families,
Govt. officials, Army personnel, Muslims; other NGOs, some Spiritual organisations;
Doctors involved in serving the injured, and even the Swayamsevaks themselves.
Everybody applauded the efforts of the Swayamsevaks without exception.
The devastated town of Anjaar was
handed over to Army for security and no one without permission can enter
the town. This rule does not work for a Swayamsevak wearing a nicker. He
is most welcome there. Such is the status of the Swayamsevak during the
relief operation. Kshetra Pracharak Shri Madhubhai Kulkarni emphatically
challenged the report published in certain newspapers that people are going
hungry, saying' "It is our responsibility to feed the hungry and let any
journalist show us one, we shall feed him." This was the confidence expressed
amongst all the Karyakartas. We questioned in many places whether some
one has gone without food, but we did not find one. Contrary to the reports
that appeared in the media, all the Doctors working in the relief activity
denied any probability of breaking an epidemic. Most of the serious cases
were referred to RSS/VHP hospitals by all other organisations including
Military personnel. After first aid these cases patients were then sent
to better hospitals in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Mumbai or Pune.
Many villages of the district of
Kutch have been supplied with potable water a few years back and the water
supply will be reinstated soon. Government of Gujarat is working hard to
reestablish the power supply soon.
Future Plans
The state unit of Sewa Bharati,
RSS and VHP is planning future programmes. Sewa Bharati has proposed to
adopt all the children orphaned in this earthquake. An Old Age home is
also being proposed as many old people might have lost their families and
will need some support. 25 villages will be rehabilitated in the quake-affected
areas of Kutch and adjoining districts. RSS- Sewa Bharati has submitted
a proposal for the reconstruction maintaining that involvement of the Voluntary
and NGOs will enhance the efficiency and participation of the local villagers
and reduce the corruption. A hostel for students who are appearing for
important examinations this year is also under consideration.
Sewa International UK and IDRF USA
have also proposed to fund the reconstruction of some of the villages.
Sewa Bharati Gujarat has opened
new accounts for donations for Earthquake victims.
An appeal for Donations
Sewa Bharati Gujarat has issued
an appeal in which they state, "More than 30,000 people are feared to have
died and few thousands and buried under the debris of the collapse buildings.
"Sewa Bharati, Gujarat" in coordination with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
is active in the relief the rehabilitation work from day one 25000 Swayamsevaks
have been at work. 600 doctors are teamwise working at different places.
They have performed 1000 operations and treated over 19000 patients. 1200
persons have been rescued alive whereas 5000 bodies have been cremated."
Future Plans:
A number of children who have lost
their parents or at least one of them, need to be rehabilitated. Similarly
many old men and women are rendered destitute. An orphanage for these children
and an old age home for the old are to be set up.
Number of severely affected villages
will be adopted for overall development and complete rehabilitation work
through our various organisations.
It is but natural that on humanitarian
grounds, you will have your sympathy towards those who have lost not only
their house and property but also lives of their family members. Materials
most needed for rescue and rehabilitation are mostly available locally
but huge finances are necessary to meet the demand.
It is an earnest appeal to send
liberal donations towards this cause.
"Sewa Bharati Gujarat", is registered
under No. 041910225 of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act. 1976 and
100% exemption is available to it under the IT Act.
Bank Details: For NRI's
A/c: "Gujarat Earthquake Relief
Account" (Sewa Bharati - Gujarat), A/c No. 01100050416
State Bank of India, Laghu Udyog
Branch, Ahmedabad 380 009
For Inland.
A/c: "Bhukamp Pidit Sahayata Nidhi"
(Sewa Bharati-Gujarat) A/c No: 50413 State Bank of India, Laghu Udyog Branch,
Ahmedabad-380 009
We have received reports that IDRF
USA and Sewa International UK and other Sewa organisations have already
sent sizeable amounts towards relief activity to Sewa Bharati Gujarat.
