On December 26th 2004, a slayer Tsunami devastated coastal communities in Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu and Kerala. The damage was gargantuan and there was loss of lives. The mayhem caused by the Tsunami had a profound effect on people throughout the globe. The electronic media’s impact prompted huge wave of sympathy and the ordinary of the most, from the West as well as Asia, responded to the tragedy with generous contributions of the aid. The UNO stepped in to do its bit and almost all NGO’s sent volunteers to the Tsunami effected regions.. Amid the wave of international concerns, India announced that while it appreciated the global sympathy, it was quite capable of handling the relief programmes and rehabilitation schemes on its own, without foreign assistance!!! The Indian decision was controversial. It suggested India was guilty of trying to turn human tragedy into an exposition of jingoism. There was the environment of feelings, that without the involvement of international NGO’s, the relief and rehabilitation work would be hindered in bureaucratic sloth and corruption. The criticism about the Indian decision was tempered with the fierce indignation of activists who believed they knew the best.
But,
What was unknown to the international aid agencies and the multinational NGO’s was the fact that in 2004, India already had an elaborate and tested disaster management mechanism in place. Since the Gujarat earthquake of 2001, the country had acquired phenomenal expertise of do’s and don’t’s, in case of natural calamities.
The devastating earthquake of January 2001, in Kutch and Gujarat was one of the natural disasters which struck Gujarat in terms of scale and intensity. It was testimony to the power of nature and the test of resilience of human beings. Its massive impact posed an enormous challenge to evolve and execute a comprehensive Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Programme. The cumulative experience of managing both the relief and the rehabilitation was put to use in dealing with the Tsunami. The handling of reconstruction of Gujarat, became a model for other states to follow. The Gujarat state Disaster Management Authority [GSDMA] led the way in transmitting the minutiae of theGujarat experience to the rest of India. After the earthquake in J&K in 2005, the central govt. in Delhi piloted a Disaster Management Bill through Parliament to establish a central authority that would complement the initiative taken by states. Gujarat had taken lead in evolving legislation to establish the parameters of Disaster management, through the Gujarat State Disaster Management Act in 2003.
However no initiative involving the Government and other bodies can be successful without the necessary display of political will. Gujarat was tremendously fluky, that in the aftermath of the terrifying incidence of gruesome earthquake, the political leadership of the state took relief and reconstruction as a challenge. They created the framework and the environment which encouraged the immense mobilization of resources to be optimally utilized. The dedication, dynamism and vigor of Hon. C.M. Shri Narendra Modi, has been a great source of inspiration. He gave the state and district administration the required autonomy and backing, to look beyond the immediate and turn the adversity into advantage.
The epicenter of the 2001 Gujarat earthquake was Kutch.
Kutch, the district in the north western region of Gujarat and that falls in the extreme West of our country, had a population of 1,583,225 in 2001 and was spread across Nine Talukas [Bhuj, Anjar, Mandavi, Mundra, Abdasa-Nalia, Lakhpat, Rapar, Bhachau and Nakhtrana] and 996 villages. Kutch, is inlaid with active ‘fold & thrust tactonism’ and has had a seismic history dating back to 1819. Since than more than 90 earthquakes have struck the regions, but none as severe as the one that walloped Gujarat on 26th January 2001.
They say, in the time of calamity, that the true mettle of a person is revealed. The same theory applies for a town, state or country, too- how it behaves in times of debilitating crisis, how it rises itself up from fallen times. Kutch district in Gujarat state is an exemplary icon that projects that how a determined state and the gritty people can restart from Ground Zero and rewrite a greater script for tomorrow..
On 26th January 2001, the 51st anniversary of the Indian republic was being celebrated with the familiar hustle bustle in countless mohallas, villages and towns-cities of Kutch.
But,
Suddenly, the earth started shaking violently at 8.46 am.
And,
It was the result of the most relentless, most severe, most brutal earthquake that shook India, since 1956. With the epicenter in Chaubari village, 65 km. to the east of Bhuj and 20 km. to the north of Bhachau, the earthquake measured 6.9 on the Richer scale. For the next 2 minutes, the tremors were felt all over Gujarat and 7,633 villages in 181 Talukas as well as 1 crore people were affected.
The magnitude of devastation was staggering. Bhuj, Anjar, Bhachau, Rapar, Gandhidham, Mandavi, Malliya, Morvi and Halvad were the worst affected regions resembled war zones. There were destroyed or semi destroyed houses in mountains and mountains of debris, some in state of acrobatic suspension. In the congested Sonewad locality of Bhuj, rescures could barely find room to manoeuvre through the concrete rubble. In Anjar, a small market town that had been damaged in 1956 earthquake, nothing remained of the Tumbiphota and Khatri Chowk localities. In Rapar, the crowded Vaghelavas locality, home to the small merchants with shops in local bazaar, was in ruins. In Ahmedabad, the multi-storied buildings that took the brunt. Some 80 buildings with 1,021 flats collapsed. To put it harshly, some 442 villages in 6 districts where more than 70 % of the houses were destroyed. It was calculated that 2.45 lakh residential houses were completely destroyed and another 10.44 lakh houses were partially damaged. More than, 10,000 small and medium industrial units went out of production and about 50,000 artisans lost their livelihood. With telephone service disrupted wild roumers spread across the country, regarding the death toll. The final tally of casualties was 13,805 deaths and another 1.67 lakh injuries. Kutch district accounted for 88% or 12,221 deaths. Of the dead, 3,743 were the men, 5,184 women and 4,878 children. Next came the Ahmedabad city with the 752 dead, mainly from the high rise building. In Anjar, nearly 300 children who had assembled in the local school for the Republic Day function were killed when 2 buildings collapsed. The death toll in the town was 1,561. Bhu, too was a witness to a dismal tragedy. The district Civil hospital distorted killing 182 patients and 11 staff members.
Thus, many lost their loved ones, their homes and their earthly possessions. Within minutes, settled householders were turned destitute and middle class families were left without even a single rupee in their pockets.
But,
The purpose here, is not to explicate the horrifying occurrence in people’s lives but the courage and determination the people of Kutch and the govt. of Gujarat expressed in testing times and turned the hardship into the opportunity.
At vulnerable moments like these, people invariably look to the state and other good Samiritans to give them a helping hand.
Providentially, the Gujarat govt. too, rose to the occasion..
The region and people had suffered grievously but it was important to pick up the pieces and begin all over again.
But,
It was important to ensure that the Gujarat that emerged from the rubble was a better Gujarat..
The Gujarat Govt. and the GSDMA conceived a total of 28 reconstruction and rehabilitation projects. However, it was quickly realized that it was the ability to rehouse those affected by the earthquake would create public confidence.
To ensure that the repairs and rebuilding programme not marred by the shortage of construction material, the Govt. established 1,082 material banks in the affected areas. These centers acted as fair-price shops for contractors and individuals. To ensure good design and quality construction, the Govt. initiated a drive to upgrade the skills of local masons and engineers. Experts from the Indian Institute of Technology, NCCBM and elsewhere were sent to the districts to hold special instruction camps. 216 such camps were organized for masons and about 29,679 masons and masters underwent training. In the specific domain of housing it meant better, sturdier houses than were previously available, building that could withstand not just future earthquakes of a matching magnitude but also any other calamity. Landscaping and Zoning laws disregarded in just so many “chance erected” rural and urban settlement in India, could be given a chance. Rebuilding the houses were combined with town planning, not just resurrection, but indeed, creation of a whole new city. Temporary vendor spaces have been replaced by the permanent slots, complete with uniform metal and stone installations and individual electricity connections,. Clean water supply ensures hygienic conditions. By any reckoning, the rebuilding of Bhachau has been a success. Over 4000 of the total 5,820 houses that needed to be built are ready or nearing completion. For Bhachau, 26 January, 2001 rendered terra nullius. The old city was razed to ground zero. The devastation was absolute. With rebuilding of a town has marked a new momentum here, where the population has gone up from 25,000 in 2001 to close to 40,000 now. New Bhachau is a shining tribute to the resilient, resurgent human spirit that excelled with their Govt.’s inventiveness.
The Govt. initiated immediate repairs of 60 dams in Kutch and Surashtra regions before the set of monsoon of 2001.
Anjar, the quaint town with population of 63,000, that was historically a production center for swords and other weapons and that still makes kitcen equipments across India, the after shock of too much to bear and to reconcile with life and move on was too heartbreaking. As they suffered second earthquake post independence, a group of 50 Khoja Muslim families decided to migrate to Bhuj. As a special case they were given a suitably contiguous land, in a city other than their own and allowed to rebuild their lives as they wanted.
Gujarat lost about 300 hospitals on that fateful morning. This number does not, of course, include the scores of primary health centers in rural areas or the private unregistered clinics. It was not just enough to rebuild these but had to be equipped with techno-savvy equipments. In some villages, the challenge was more humble- properly paved roads, a drainage system and necessary water lines were also provided. The journey from a big city hospital to a primary health center in a village is understandably dramatic. In some states, particularly in nortern India, where the equation between the town and village is immensely skewed, Gujarat can be a learning experience. The newly constructed primary health center in Bagthala, Morvi Taluka, has been developed as an extremely well provided. The staff comprised of one doctor, assisted by ten nurses. The delivery/maternity rooms had faux wooden flooring. Politically correct messages on the wall, promoting female child and posters depicting Indian women achievers-from Zansi ki Rani Laxmibai to astronaut Kalpana Chawla. This primary health center professes neat and clean appearance.
The state govt. has taken enormous efforts to restore the heritage structures in a remarkable concession to aesthetic congruity. The earthquake resistant Public Buildings and world class roads and infrastructure has been created. The Public Utilities have been restored in a better way than original.
The saga of the Second Coming of Kutch, illustrates how a dedicated State Govt. can create a difference in the lives of its people, even in the worst of times and transform tragic adversity into a prospect, if spearheaded by inspired and complemented by clear-headed planning and long term foresight.
How, even govt. bodies can turn up near 100% performance, if guided ably and funded timely.
How, a town could script out a new beginning, from amidst the humongous debris of a killer earthquake.
How, a second coming is possible-for a town, a state and a Nation, if the vision is clear and is complimented with transparent commitment by the head of Govt.
At the macro level, the state of Gujarat has taken the lead in creating an Institute of Seismological Research and a Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management which also studies the global experiences in coping with disasters. In addition, five emergency response centers, for emergency response have been planned for Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot, Vadodara and Gandhidham and a chemical disaster response center in Vadodara. The work of GSDMA has been widely recognized within Gujarat and the rest of the country. In 2003, it received the Certificate of Merit for the UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction. The Gujarat Earthquake Emergency Relief Programme [GEERP] was awarded theGreen Award by the World Bank for successfully integrating environment concerns into the programme. Gujarat’s Disaster Management model has been motivational to the world. In recently concluded international conference about disaster management at Gandhinagar, Vice Chairman of The National Disaster Management Authority, Shri M. Shashidhar Reddy, stated that Gujarat’s disaster management planning is a subject of study for the research students and they are the perfect example of how a tough time can be transformed into a progressive times.
The resurgence of Kutch is an inspirational example for the whole of India and a forever source of pride for the state of Gujarat..
Vande Gujarat..
Vande Matram.
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