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KUTCHH AFTER
A
REPORT
INTRODUCTION- Five years have
passed the 2001 Killer Earthquake, which has devastated the life of Kutchh and
killed thousands of people. Socialist Unity Centre of India (S.U.C.I.) reached
Kutchh on the second day of Earthquake, set up its base camp at Bahchau, and
undertook intense medical and material relief work along with educational and
cultural relief. Tarpaulin school was constructed in the early days, followed by
reconstruction of semi-permanent school at Bhachau. Shyamji Krishna Verma ?
Bhagat Singh ? Meghani Library was
constructed within two months of earthquake and multiple cultural
activities were organized to relieve people from mental trauma. Sewing classes
for women were started; mason and carpenter tool kit was distributed for
economic rehabilitation of affected people. Physical training, sports and games
were initiated. We organized tent class at Bhuj for the students of
Along with relief work,
S.U.C.I. continuously organized people and raise the issues of affected people
before authority. We formed Earthquake affected people struggle committee, which
led a delegation to local authorities of Bhachau as well at Bhuj. People?s
conferences were organized at Bhachau, Bhuj and Ahmedabad. We also issued open
letter to Prime Minister and joined the demonstration by the senior citizens at
Bhuj. After 1st
year and 2nd year of Earthquake, we came out with in depth survey
report and broke the myth of rosy picture of rehabilitation of affected people
created by the government of A long period of five
years has passed after the Earthquake. In the continuity of earlier survey this
year also we tried to probe into the rehabilitation work of the Earthquake
affected Kutchh. Under the leadership of SriJayesh Patel and Sri Tapan Dasgupta the state leaders of Gujarat S.U.C.I.a
survey team visited Bhuj, Bhachau, Rapar and Anjar, many villages, met common
people, women, peasants, small traders, academicians, students, youths, workers,
leading citizens, media persons, lawyers, and collected the materials and took
stock of the present situation.
Many things have changed
in this five year ? New roads, government offices, school building, court,
police station could be observed. Many houses were also constructed. However,
our survey revealed that at one hand people of this Earthquake, affected people
are confronting newer realities, and at other hand rehabilitation, related work
is still pending and as a result, people are suffering. We tried to find out
this newer issues as well as the pending rehabilitation activity in cities and
villages of Kutchh. REPORT TEMPORARY
SHELTERS HAVE BECOME PERMANENT It is very astonishing
to see the temporary shelters still exist in Bhuj, Bhachau and Anjar. Though
temporary rehabilitation is supposed to be the transition from temporary to
permanent rehabilitation. But after five years, the temporary shelters have
become the permanent rehabilitation. In Anjar the victims are
staying in the
Water crisis is a
regular feature, which comes once in two to three days. Absence of drainage
system turned the Prajapati Nagar into an open gutter, resulting regular
sickness. In Bhuj, people are
still living at temporary shelters of Raghuvansi Nagar and Dindayal Nagar. They
are tenants as well as the landowners, whose construction work is yet to be
started or partially constructed. In Bhachau, people are staying at Gayatri
Nagar . PERMANENT
REHABILITATION Government of
Because of this complex
procedure, permanent rehabilitation process was delayed, followed by the
corruption from top to bottom. Till this date, many people could not complete
the construction of their houses only because they had not received either
second or the third installment. One Mr. Kasambhai Sarania and his three
brothers have not received second installment for last 3 years despite they
constructed their house up to sea level. Mr.Khoja?s land was acquired by AADA
authority. He has neither got compensation nor received any rehabilitation
relief package. He filed a case in High Court and the Judgment in his favour.
However, AADA authority did not honor the High Court order. Because of this
delay in disbursing the installment or the approval of plans by AADA, more than
50% of construction activity has not started yet. Many residents of Sitarampura
of Bhachau has not received 2nd and 3rd installment though
they have completed construction of their houses. Same is the problem of
Himmatpura and Bhatpalia of Bhachau Taluka. Purshottambhai Karia residing at
Bhatpalia couldnot complete his house. As a result, 3rd installment
has not being released. Similarly, many people of Bhatpalia have not received
2nd and 3rd installment. Same is the situation at
Bhuj and Rapar. Many people are still staying at Raghuvanshi Nagar and Dindayal
Nagar in BHUJ, as they could not complete their houses because of administrative
hassles. Almost 5 to 8 thousand people still staying in these temporary
shelters. At Rapar 500 families
who had constructed house within 3-4 months of earthquake, had not received any
compensation. Out of 20,302 rural beneficiaries only 15,210 have received the
entire installment. The victims of Nilpar, Palasvand, Dahisara, Pragpar,
Karmaria, Kabrau villages have not received 3rd
installment. TENANT
ISSUE-THE BONE OF CONTENTION Tenants are the worst
sufferer in the total rehabilitation programme. The complexity starts with the
question of proving their tenancy. At Anjar tenants are staying for such a long
period that it has become impossible to locate their original owners of the
house. In most of the cases owner are not used to give any receipt for the rent,
without which tenancy could not be established The complexities are due
to the declared permanent rehabilitation package for the tenants. As per the
package the government pays the compensatation to the original owner who will be
responsible for reconstruction of house for the tenant. A year long period will
be given to the owner for the construction, and if he fails, a notice will be
served and an extension of one more year will be given. After this also if the
owner fails to reconstruct the house, the government will take back the money
and will undertake the construction itself. According to a senior citizen, this
is a most impractical package. The result is that, more than 90% of the tenants
are living with an uncertain future . TOWN PLANNING-A
The Town planning
followed by the killer earthquake with a human face is totally missing. The
total focus is on the roads, lights, administrative buildings than the proper
rehabilitation of the victims. The earthquake played havoc on the lives of the
people, but the town planning evicted them from their ancestor lands too. The
eviction of the victims was much more ruthless and inhuman and beyond tolerance
after the earthquake. There were sporadic agitations and protest.
Delays, chaos, callous
and indifferent attitude of the authority, which is the order of the day,
created a sense of frustration and helplessness among the citizens. According to
concerned leading citizen, ?Town planning in Kutchh is bereft of people?s
participation?. The government
through an ordinance has removed the clause of people?s participation in the
town planning act. Thus in the last five years people had a horrifying
experience. Town planning keep on changing for years and delay in finalisation
delayed rehabilitation and reconstruction. People had to demolish their repaired
or newly constructed house as roads keep on changing with every town planning.
Bureaucratic functioning
and high handedness in the implementing office of town planning, that is Area
Development Authority in the cities, gave way to immense corruption. Passing the
house plan, procuring certificate at the various stages of construction,
releasing 2nd and 3rd installment involved huge amount of
money. It is reported that Bhuj
Area Development Authority (BHADA) procured land for developmental purpose and
then sold to the private parties. It has also sold land at the higher price than
they have paid to its original owner while procuring the land. In some places
BHADA after demolishing an existing structure sold it to some one else than the
original owner. In Bhachau, presence of
town planning was not felt in areas like Sitarampara, Himatpara and Bhattpalia.
According to a leading industrialist of Kutchch, the implemented of town
planning in Bhachau and the subsequent release of the installments created an
explosive situation in Kutchh. He further added that alike Ahmedabad the total
amount of the rehabilitation package money should have been given to the victims
and they should have the choice to construct their houses according to their
requirement. The newly constructed
roads got damaged in the first monsoon shower. RELOCATION
Anjar and Bhuj are the
two towns where the question of relocation sites is the most living issue of
unsettlement. People lost their land due to widening of roads in the old city
due to town planning. . Bhuj Area Development Authority earmarked four
relocation sites, namely RTO site, Mundra road site, Rawalwadi site and GIDC
road site. People were allotted plots in these relocation sites through draw
system where majority are left out and staying in rented houses. Though the
constructions of houses have been done by the beneficiaries but they are
confronting with newer problems. Despite the residents had paid the development
and the betterment charges water and drainage connection has not been provided
to them. Instead Bhuj Area Development Authority has asked them to deposit money
for water and drainage connection. Anjar Area Development
Authority has not developed any relocation site but various caste organisations
and religious leaders had acquired land for the tenants of the respective castes
and developing them as relocation sites. ADOPTION OF VILLAGES-ADOPTERS
MISSING-REJECTION OF ADOPTION BY PEOPLE The over enthusiasm of
the voluntary organization to help the victims gave an opportunity to the Government of Gujarat envisage the package of adoption
of villages to various organisations
as per the package adopted
villages by the NGO will
bear the half of the expenses and Government of Gujarat will bear the other
half. The opting villages for
adoption will not receive any financial help from the Govt. There are some
villages that refused to accept any adoption and preferred the relief package by
Government. In real situation we see partial adoption as well as total adoption
of villages by various organisations Government did not set
any uniform norms for these adopting organisations. Some of them provided one
room ? kitchen, whereas in some other villages villagers got larger house and
better facility. Kunjisar and Kakarva were reconstructed with all the facility
whereas in Indraprastha (Navi Dudhai) rooms were without plaster and flooring.
In Indrasprastha latrine and bathroom also had not been provided to the
people. Adoption has also
segregated villages into multiple segments. Different caste groups are staying
in different segments. Dhudhai, Bandari, Kabrau, Wondh are few of them where
village has been divided into two or three segments based on
caste. THE
UNHEALTHY-HEALTH It is one of the most neglected
sector.The earthquake played havoc on the human body.People suffered from
multiple injuries.The medical relief was a temporary relief for the patients
which demanded follow-ups.Many went out of other parts of
Most
of the PHCs are without doctors and adequate staff. There are several vacancies
of doctors, nurses, malaria workers, supervisors. The mobile medical vans are
gathering dust. Some BHUJ
HOSPITAL- A Bhuj District hospital
is a grand gift to the people of Kutchh, constructed at the cost of 200 Cr. from
Prime Minister?s fund, with most modern equipments and technology. There is a general feeling of the people
that hospital should be managed by AIIMS or Government of India. People fear
that if such situation continues then after some time these costly instruments
will be shifted to some other hospitals of Before the earth quake
no charge was taken from the patient, but now charges are levied from outdoor to
indoors in different heads. In post earth quake
situation this will be a big blow to the economically weaker section of Kutchh.
Infrastructural development is the only development which one feel very strongly
in the quake affected Kutchh. Collector office, mamlatdar office, government
quarter, court building, post office, roads, every thing is new and colorful.
But the same zest is missing in various localities like relocation sites of
Bhuj, Anjar where the basic infrastructural facilities like water line and
drainage lines has not been provided yet despite Area Development Authorities
has collected development charges and betterment charges. Roads are being
constructed every where except GIDC relocation site at Bhuj and Sitarampara,
Himatpara, Junawada areas of Bhachau. People living in the primary shelters for
long five years almost without any primary facility EDUCATION The educational institution are constructed
by the Voluntary organizations. Nevertheless, there are many schools where there are only two teachers for150
students. There is no fresh employment of the teachers. Again the teachers are
engaged in Government works leaving
the students untaught. Again the menaces of self finance and the
commercialization and privatization of education has started aggressively. The
poor economic situation has propelled the dropouts among the girls students. In
most of them, places are yet to be opened. Though the educational buildings were
constructed, the education has taken the backseat and economic relief for
promotion of education is a distance dream. JUSTICE
DENIED Justice delayed is the
Justice denied. However, here in most of the cases the Judgments either from the
lower court or the higher of High Court is in favour of the tenants. Victims are
not honored by the administration. The legal procedure is so costly that the
most of the people opted out of court procedure. The Court proceeding against
the residents of the Sarvoday Nagar and the SUCI leaders are still pending in
the court for last four years. In Ahmedabad the builders of the devastated
houses are freed from the charges HUMAN RIGHTS
QUESTIONS.
On closer scrutiny one
will find people has stopped complaining. They have lost faith not only in the
administration, Govt. but on Judiciary also .The Govt. and it?s administration
has not honored the NHRC?s recommendation or the observation of the Gujarat High
Court. People?s Redressal cell in the line of Narmada Tribunal was introduced.
Similarly the Ombusement for
the quake effected people for
redressal was also not honored. . INDUSTRIALISATION
After earthquake
Government of India declared TAX EMPLOYMENT- A
MIRAGE Where ever one goes
cannot escape the sights of people loitering for livelihood. Just after the
earthquake, people got engaged in debris, collecting the scraps, iron rods,
bricks and other things. As the construction started, the mansions, carpenters,
and the ordinary laborers got an avenues of livelihood. But as the days passed
the construction works have reached
a saturation point. The spurting industries
have failed to provide employment
as desired to the local people. The upcoming industries are giving more
preference to the outside workers and even the labors than the local people.
This very aspects is becoming matter of discontent in the surrounding
villages. The condition of small
traders are equally insecure. They have been shifted from one places to
another more than 5 to 6 times.
Most of them do not have money to opt for high priced municipal
shops. In general, educated as
well as uneducated are leading in uncertainties. Women as the bread
earner An overall view of
almost all the place one can find the women are doing the Bharat Work. It has
become one of the main earning of the women folk in Kutchh, in addition to the
earning of the male folks. The males are trying to earn either from manual works
which is hardly available regularly. The life has become very
difficult, uncertain and insecure and hard more after the
earthquake CORRUPTION- AN OPEN
SECRET Corruption has become
the part and parcel of the whole R-R programme. Only the corruption on the
removal of the debris has come to
limelight due to the public pressure but there are many unrecorded but widely felt corruption which are yet
to be unearthed. SOCIAL ASPECT- AN UN SETTLED
SOCIETY? The Five year of the
Killer Earthquake has refreshed the memories of holocaust of the people Earth
quake, rehabilitation, reconstruction, relief left a deep scar on the socio ?
cultural life of Kutchh. Despair and faithlessness have become the part of their
life. People learned to keep quite and tolerate injustice. They become
fatalistic and find recourse in superstition. In the beginning of the killer
earthquake they were overwhelmed by the tender touch of the people of the whole
world. They feel so obliged to them. However, as time passed there was no end to their anguish
and despair. Moreover, more over the insult and the humiliation from the
Administration and the Govt. is still hurting them. The Administration was more
like military dictatorship minus human face. The earthquake devastated them but
the Administration and the Govt. wrecked them which will have a far
consequence In general people are
yet to settle themselves.
(Dwarikanath
Rath)
Secretary,
Contact:
Ahmedabad
: 206/1, Patel Vas, Madalpur, Ellisbridge, Ahmedabad-380
006.
Vadodara
: 16/118, G.H.B. Colony,
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