CITYWATCH NEWS
SPARC & SSP respond - The Gujarat Earthquake
Rapid Earthquake Assessment By Citizen's Initiatives
Kutch Navnirman Abhiyan - how you can contribute Earthquake Relief
Lessons Shared from the Turkey Earthquake
Lessons from the Latur earthqauke to use in Gujarat
SHRUJAN needs to start a work station in villages to give employment
Some Reports/Stories from Gujarat
The Gujarat Earthquake
January 31st 2001,
The numbers of people dead is steadily rising, almost sure to touch six digits.
The real count is not known as a majority of "missing people" are lying under the debris. The major earthquake on Friday 26th Jan had its epicenter in a town called Bhuj in Kutch district in state of Gujarat. Bhuj city and nearby villages, even entire blocks were flattened out. The quake spread over 200 kms radius and stretched to Ahmedabad city. Bhuj is 7 hours by road from Ahmedabad and 15 hrs from Bombay. The earthquake, 8.0 on a richter scale was followed with 188 aftershocks in the next 48 hrs... People have migrated out towns and villages fearing a health epidemic as there is no food, water or shelter.
Bhuj, once a vibrant market town, is now a death trap. It is day 6 and they haven't reached a majority of the 75,000 people who are trapped beneath debris in the inner city. It is a shame that all our country's armed forces (over 20,000 deployed) and all the 21st century global hi technology and communication was of no use to reach and rescue people. Now their survival chances are dim. The state and its people have a tradition of community self-help, and enterprise. Though the response and awareness is higher, than ever, the state is reduced to a state of helplessness in utter shock. Many in the administration themselves are victims.
Several development organizations have swung into action, working quietly. There are several citizen initiatives by NGOs in Ahmedabad and Bhuj with a control room for NGOs, to coordinate work in the field, but the scale of this disaster has thrown everyone off completely.
Expressing our concerns --SPARC and SSP:
We thought until now, that the Latur earthquake in September 1993 was a killer quake. with over 10,000 people dead and 2,00,000 houses damaged across 1300 villages. But after came the Marmara earthquake in Turkey in August 1999. It is heartening to note that Turkish specialist have come here to offer assistance to the victims. This quake of Jan 26th is far more devastating. A complete breakdown in transport both rail and roads, electricity and communications. and multi storied buildings has made rescue even more impossible. Even now, while the cities are being serviced, there has been little or no outreach to the villages. This is of great concern.
While we speak to friends working in the earthquake area, it seems that the need of the hour, is supplies, not volunteers in Bhuj, says Sushma Iyengar, of Nav Nirman Abhiyan ( Umbrella NGO which is working in all control rooms with the collectors in various cities ). Infrastructure for water and sanitation is fragile and over stretched. Skilled health personnel and equipment are needed to save lives. There is a need to find ways to reach out to the rural /and remote villages.
What are we planning and how can we contribute? In this time of crisis, SPARC and SSP join hands. We have a team of engineers and field organizers and over 300 experienced grassroots women's groups who have worked on community-led reconstruction after the Latur earthquake in 1993. Women leaders have already expressed willingness to go to Gujarat. Today, a SSP team will go to make an assessment of shelter needs in rural communities and how we can supplement efforts of organizations. We are exploring immediately with the national, state governments, UNDP on how we can use our experience to work in rebuilding of shelters. We plan to make an offer to do what we know best -- to use "reconstruction process " of houses and public buildings as a means to empower people. Right now, with the enormous destruction, the trauma is very high. To cope with this, combat this, and turn a crisis on its head, the involvement of people -both men and women - is needed. SPARC, NSDF and Mahila Milan have teams from several states who will visit all the towns and cities and locate a role for themselves in cities just as SSP locates a role in rural areas.
First, they need to be helped to walk through --this traumatic period to begin to get involved in relief. We believe, it will help, if they speak to others from Latur, who have gone through this trauma, and maybe, begin to see how they can work together. While we feel certain that the NGOs in the affected areas are working on immediate things, we can help them and the community groups to " walk through" in their minds through the rescue, relief, recovery and rehabilitation processes and accompany them when need be. At each stage, we need to consciously find ways of building capacities of people -in distributing relief, in shifting from community to running their family kitchens, in sending children to school, in assessing needs, organizing groups to provide supplies. Getting people to rally together, we found, helps them to move away from being victims. and from dependency.
In the long run, the manner in which the communities respond to the crisis will act as the basis for building their strengths to address development needs. If people continue to remain shell shocked, plans will be made without consulting people. People need to return to their villages. They need to meet in village forums, do their own assessments and lobby for their needs and services. On our part, SSP and the Sakhi Women's federations from Latur and Osmanabad plan to share our insights and plan to highlight issues around women and disasters, while being part of various actions with groups and NGOs in the affected areas.
In October 2000, leaders and Swayam Shikshan Prayog had gone to visit the women's groups linked to Kutch Mahila Vikas in Bhuj where the earthquake hit on 26th Jan 2001. In the aftermath of the disaster at Bhuj, women leaders from Latur/Osmanabad have been coming in to office , on behalf of the Sakhi federation (which has 15000 women members from 600 self help groups in the two districts) saying they want to go to Gujarat and work.
This is why we feel it will be a unique effort. We have put together a list of things we feel need to be done to pursue a path from disaster to long term development led by communities:
**** RESCUE AND RELIEF
* Channeling aid and relief in a dignified manner to people
* Forming mutual support groups to face trauma
* Assigning volunteers, teachers for referrals
* Temporary care for orphans, others
* Relief camps and nodal centers for coordination with external agencies
* Running community kitchens
**** COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT
* family and housing surveys ,
* assessment of needs by groups-women, children, older people, disabled
* resource mapping by women collectives of essential basic services
**** REBUILDING HOUSES
* rebuilding of safe temporary shelters /houses with local materials, local trained masons
* building demo/ model earthquake safe community structures-schools, community centers, health clinics
**** REBUILDING OURSELVES & ORGANISATIONS
* forming women's self help groups, mobilizing youth groups
* collective income generation efforts, food for work programs
* starting community initiatives --informal education centers for children,
* addressing trauma, psycho social issues with counseling and education
* focusing on primary health and disability -access to services
**** STRENGTHENING LOCAL SELF GOVERNANCE
* information and feedback on what the govt. plans and policies
* lobby for grievance redressal mechanisms
* Dialogue meetings between people and govt.
* creating community mechanisms to channel resources and aid
* community contribution and self help initiatives
* Community planning and monitoring
RAPID EARTHQUAKE ASSESSMENT BY CITIZEN'S INITIATIVE
The Gujrat NGos have sent this to us:
CITIZEN'S INITIATIVE
A coordination group of several NGOs has been meeting to ensure that efforts are being made to coordinate NGO efforts as well as liase with government and other agencies for effective immediate relief and long-term interventions.
The group met several times and decided yesterday the following:
A rapid assessment of the earthquake affected regions to gauge the impact of the earthquake, as well as the immediate, short-term and long-term relief and rehabilitation needs.
The following organisations have taken primary coordination responsibilities for following regions:
-Rapar & Bachao: SAMERTH & Ahmedabad Round Table
-Lakhpat: SXSSS (St. Xavier's Social Service Society)
-Morbi, Halvad & Maliya: Vikas Adhyayan Kendra
-Radhanpur & Patan: ASAG
-Okha & Dwarka: UNNATI
-Urban Areas of Ahmedabad & Surat: SAMVAD/ INSAF
The coordinating organisations will solicit support from other organisations and individuals, esp. technical personnel like doctors, planners, etc.
If urgent relief is required, the teams may contact the coordinating centre at SXSSS (Tel: 079- 7417654)
Any other organisations/ individuals visiting the regions on their own are also welcome to give written feedback as per below format to us or willy@vsnl.com
Relief agencies are requested to keep local situation in mind before embarking on relief work: i.e. if wheat is being taken, remember that there are no flour mills, if generator sets are taken you should carry even wires. Take everything complete, presuming that you get nothing in worst affected parts like Kutch. There are already large number of doctors siting there idle with their tiny medical kits, but no surgical equipments and many other things.Please contact reliable organisations or our Ahmedabad control room for any queries or support.(Tel: 079- 7417654)
The groups will present the reports of the rapid assessment on Feb.1 at 4 p.m. (SXSSS)
Awareness leaflets to be published for urban areas (Bhuj, Ahmedabad) and rural areas
NGO meeting with UN & international agencies in Ahmedabad (Jan.31)
Format for RAPID ASSESSMENT OF EARTHQUAKE AFFECTED AREAS
Effects of the earthquake
How many villages of the region have been affected by the earthquake?
(In taluka__, in district__)
How severe was the intensity of the earthquake experienced?
Impact of the earthquake in the region: how and how much?
Loss of lives and injuries
Loss of animal lives
Have people of the region migrated, and where?
Impact on houses kachha/ pakka
Totally destroyed (no./%)
Badly affected (unfit for living)
Minor damages
Safe houses
Impact on public structures
Schools
Dispensaries
Hospitals
Panchayat Office
Buildings of cooperatives
Others
Impact on basic services
Water
Roads
Electricity
Sanitation
Socio-psychological impact
Any specific socio-psychological case/s needing immediate/ future interventions (details like type of case, address/ contact)
Estimate of children lost, and/or orphaned
Relief Efforts
After the earthquake, who has started relief efforts?
Government
NGOs
Local organisations
What relief done by them?
Local contacts of supporting organisations (names, addresses, tel. nos., etc.)
Any control room operating in the region? (if yes, then contact address/ tel.)
Present Relief & rehabilitation needs
Immediate (specific: like medicines-which/for what, medical equipments, etc.)
Short term
Long term
Possible location/s for setting up new control/ relief coordination centres, if necessary
Kutch Navnirman Abhiyan - how you can contribute Earthquake Relief
Over 20,000 people have died in Gujarat in what has been termed as the most devastating earthquake in 50 years. The latest media reports speculate that the final figure could be as high as 75,000. Over 50,000 are injured and thousands have been rendered homeless in the quake, which measured 7.9 on the Richter scale and rocked the state on Friday, January 26, 2001 at 8.50 am (IST). The quake had its epicentre near Bhuj in Kutch district, which is facing a tragedy of unimaginable proportions.
The Kutch Navnirman Abhiyan is a collective of 14 grassroots NGOs working in Kutch district. It originated as a response to the devastating cyclone that hit Kutch in June 1998, for effective disaster management. Subsequently the Abhiyan emerged as a joint platform to undertake a range of development initiatives including training programmes for rural youth and policy advocacy on primary education, drinking water, planned industrial development and self-employment. Presently, the Abhiyan network is gathering itself to undertake a monumental relief operation, probably the greatest ever trial of their physical, moral and emotional strength.
Some NGOs working presently under the Kutch Navnirman Abhiyan are Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan, Sahjeevan, Vivekanand Research and Training Institute, Kutch Yuvak Sangh, Bhimani Khadi Mandal, Ashapura Foundation, Kutch Ecology Foundation, Gram Swaraj Sangh, Anarde Foundation, Kutch Ecology and Environment Cell, Patidar Yuvak Sangh, Saraswatam Trust and Shree Sangh.
Over 200 NGOs of Gujarat state have come together under the aegis of Janpath Citizen's Initiative to support the Abhiyan network and other voluntary relief efforts in Kutch and similar relief operations in other affected districts of Gujarat.:
HOW YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE -
- BY DONATING MONEY HERE IN DELHI
FOR ITEMS THAT ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY OR HAVE GONE UNDERGROUND IN GUJARAT SUCH AS MEDICINES, TARPAULIN AND BAMBOO. THESE ARE REQUIRED URGENTLY AND NEED TO BE PURCHASED IN DELHI.
CHEQUES CAN BE MADE TO SADBHAVANA TRUST
The mailing address is -
Sadbhavana Trust
B-64, 2nd Floor Sarvodaya Enclave
New Delhi 110017
Sadbhavana Trust has 80(G) income tax exemption and the required FCRA registration to accept foreign money donations.
- BY DONATING IN KIND
THE NGO FORUM IN GUJARAT WHICH IS CO-ORDINATING RELIEF EFFORTS HAS SENT A DETAILED LIST OF ITEMS REQUIRED. (LIST ATTATCHED). THESE ARE BEING COLLECTED BY INDIVIDUALS AND VARIOUS NGOS IN DELHI. YOU CAN ALSO DIRECTLY DONATE AT THE CENTRAL COLLECTION CENTRE AT ANKUR BY 1ST FEB. 2001.
ANKUR
7/10 SARVAPRIYA VIHAR
NEW DELHI 110016
Phone- 6523395, 6523417
- BY SENDING DONATIONS TO GUJARAT
Demand Drafts/Cheques
Indian and foreign currency cheques and demand drafts should be made in the name of "Janvikas" which has the 80(G) income tax exemption and the required FCRA registration to accept foreign money donations. Demand drafts preferred. Mail to the following address:
Janvikas
105-6 Royal ChinmayApartments
Behind Simandhar Towers
Judges Bungalows Road,
Ahmedabad, INDIA : 380015
Tel: 91-79-6857745
Fax:91-79-6857443.
24 hour hotline: 6856685, 6857745, 6857443
Direct Bank Wire:
Janvikas (FCRA) account no: 9687, Bank of India, Panchvati Branch, Ahmedabad, INDIA 380006.
Swift Code No: BKIDINBBAAMB
- BY DONATING ONLINE:
Log on to www.icicicommunities.org and make donations via credit card, cheques in the name of Give Foundation, Money to India or Infinity Internet Banking.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
NIRANTAR, B-64 Sarvodaya Enclave, New Delhi 110017. Ph: 6966334, Fax:6517726,
e-mail: nirantar@vsnl.com
Ankur, 7/10 Sarvpriya Vihar, New Delhi 110016, Ph:6523395, fax:6521411;
e-mail: ankureducation@vsnl.net
PEACE, ph: 6858940, fax: 6968121,
e-mail: peaceact@vsnl.com
JAGORI, C54 South Extension Part II, New Delhi, ph: 6257015,
e-mail: jagori@del3.vsnl.net.in
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
List of things needed by February 4-5, according to Kutch Navnirman Abhiyan:
No.ItemAbhiyan estimateCollected for despatch on 29/1
1Medicines
Obiimet Mettormin tablets IP 500 mg20 strips each20 strips each
Revix vitamin+mineral capsules
Monosprin 30 mg
Rezult 2 rosigliatazone maleate tables
Glimer 2 mg
Glypride 2
Walkers500
Crutches500 pairs
2Electrical equipment
Gen-sets (preferably diesel-run)As many as possible
Electric wireassorted
Electric bulbs
Halogen lamps
Extension boards
Bulb-holders
Insulated pliers
Insulated screwdrivers/testers
Battery-powered torches with cells1,000
Matchboxes1,000
Candles1,000
3Shelter
Tents (simple to set up)4
G.I. wire
Tarpaulin sheets1,000
10-ft bamboo sticks10,000
Rope (all kinds)As much as possibleassorted
Chattais (straw mats)5,000
Mattresses/Rugs/Shetranjis2,00060
Pillows60
Bedsheets (chaddars)
Blankets10,000120
4Debris removal
Gas cutters50
Gas cylinders500
Gas line cutters (pipe)
Spades, trowels, troughs, etc. (pavda, tagara, trikam)
5Water supply
Sintex-type tanks (100/50 litre)1,0004
Buckets with mugs/lotas/dabbas5,000
6Personal hygiene
Towels
Detergent (e.g. Nirma)
7Foods
Rice
Wheat flour (no whole grain)
Tuvar dal
Chana
Poha
Potatoes
Onions
Red chili powder
Cooking oil
Tea & coffee
Salt
Jaggery (gur)
Haldi (turmeric powder)
Plates/thalis5,000 sets
Spoons (small & large)
Strainers
8Personal wear
Woollens – sweaters, coats, jackets...10,000 of eachassorted
Shawls
Socks
Caps
Mufflers
Clothes (men, women, children)assorted
Bags/Suitcases5,000
9Communications (MOST URGENT!)
Satellite phone instruments (with battery back-up) - for base camp in BhujAt least 1
Ham radio sets (range over 500 km., preferably 1,000 km.) – one to be based in Bhuj and one in Ahmedabad2 sets (with 6 operators)
Short-range one-to-many handheld portable radio sets ("walkie-talkies") - for use locally in Bhuj & environs1 central set + 10 roving sets
Short-range many-to-many handheld portable radio sets – for use in Bhuj & environs6 instruments
Additional Medicine list
In descending order of priority:
ACD bags, Blood Bank Technicians with kits (as there are lots of volunteer blood donors)
Human Tetanus Globulin, Anti-Gas gangrene serum, Injection Tentanus Toxoid,
Injectable Antibiotics
CLEAN POTABLE WATER FOR DRINKING AND WASHING WOUNDS
TORCHES/ Rechargeable lamps
I.V. Fluids: Ringer Lactate, Haemaccel, DNS
IV sets
Blood sets
Venflons - all sizes in plenty/Scalp Veins/Alcohol swabs
Crepe bandages
Crutches, walkers,
Sterile gauze, gamgee,
Splints
Plaster of Paris
GLOVES, MASKS, Plastic gowns, Plastic sheets, Linen
Surgical cutdown (Venesection sets), Artery forceps, Portable Cautery,
Corrugated drains
Walky-Talky two way communication radios
Cetavolon, Hydrogen peroxide, Spirit, Sterile Cotton
External fixators
Portable operating lights and tables
Scalpel blades, Wire brushes for cleaning muscle deep wounds, Suture
materials, Betadine solution,
Syringes 20 cc, 10 cc, 5 cc, 2cc, 50 cc
Hypodermic needles size 20, 24
Spinal needles size 22, 23, 25
Xylocaine 5% heavy 50 Ampoules
Injectable Analgesics and Anesthetics:
Ketamine
Morphine/Pethidine/Midazolam/Pentothal/Fortwin/Phenergan/Scoline/Voveran
injectable and suppositories
Portable Anesthesia machine and Oxygen cylinders
Portable Suction machine - Foot suction
Scissors/Ampoule cutters/ Sticking plaster/ Elastoplast
Ambu bag adult with valve
Ambu bag Paediatric with valve
Anaesthesia masks sizes 1,2,3,4
Airways sizes (Plastic) 0-4
Laryngoscope with blades with all sizes
Spare batteries and bulbs
Endotracheal tubes cuffed
Suction catheters
Oxygen face masks
Ryle's tubes, Chest tubes (Intercostal drainage tubes)
Foley's cathers
General things:
Stretchers
Blankets
Portable beds
Dry packed food
Mobile communication equipment
Warm clothes
Chlorine tablets
Oral Rehydration Sachets
DELHI NGOS SUPPORTING THE APPEAL INCLUDE -
PEACE, ANKUR, MARG, NIRANTAR, KALI, NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR INDIA, PARTNERS FOR LAW IN DEVELOPMENT, SAMA, INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR RESEARCH ON WOMEN, JAGORI, TEHELKA.COM, RAHI, HAQ, TARSHI, EKATRA, LAWYERS COLLECTIVE, HUMAN RIGHTS LAW NETWORK, CENTRE FOR EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION, CREA AND LOKAYAN.
Lessons from the Latur earthqauke to use in Gujarat
Towards a community driven rehabilitation policy February 8, 2001
Need of the hour
After the Gujarat earthquake of January 26th 2001, relief work is about to start and the state rehabilitation strategy is being formulated. Learning from the previous rehabilitation efforts in particular the Latur earthquake is at the core of designing sustainable policy initiatives and effective mechanisms that work for people.
After the Latur earthquake on 30th September 1993, SPARC-SSP was appointed Community Participation and Monitoring Consultant (for the Repair and Strengthening (R&S) program covering 1300 villages and 2,00,000 households,) by the Government of Maharashtra .The project was supported by the World Bank, UNDP, DFID and other international agencies. After the completion of the earthquake rehabilitation project, in 1998, SSP steered the women?s groups and communities involved in reconstruction towards a broad based community development strategy.
An "owner driven" reconstruction policy will allow us to use post-disaster rehabilitation as an opportunity for people to rebuild their houses and communities. At the same time, it is important to work out a timeline for rehabilitation. Relief operations should last up to two –three months and reconstruction of houses should be completed in two years. Until this time, people are likely to be housed in temporary shelters. Past experience shows that for this to happen, efficient planning should replace the current centralized planning at all level set up at rescue and relief stage. Special efforts are needed to set up decentralised units with personnel trained in disaster management to handle flow of resources and bridge the gap between government and affected people.
1.RELIEF AS A BASIS FOR REHABILITATION
As we enter the relief phase, we need use this stage to lay foundation for a community driven rehabilitations strategy.
*Addressing health and psycho social issues
*Building temporary shelters
Temporary shelters provide the much-needed "breathing space" for affected people to stabilize their lives. In villages where all structures are destroyed, temporary shelters may be the only accommodation that people live in for next one to two years. Region specific technology and material options need to be explored before recommending alternatives for people experiencing extreme climates and disasters such as floods or cyclones.
*Building of public community facilities to demonstrate earthquake resistant technology
At this stage, together with providing shelter, along with electricity, water, fuel, rations etc constructing /restoring schools and health centers are usually a priority. We would strongly recommend community centers as part of building confidence in communities sometimes breaking the existing social /caste barriers.
*Addressing health and psychosocial issues
Health prevention including safe water & sanitation, tackling health epidemics, restoring access to services esp. disabilities, A simple yet effective way of tackling pot disaster trauma, would be to provide community centers women to meet and voice their concerns.
Involve people in community rebuilding activities
Volunteers from youth groups, Mahila Mandals can be trained as mental health volunteers
Provide minimum facilities for trauma counseling linked to primary health centers
*Assessment and documentation - deaths and damage to structures
After the issuing of death certificates, compensation packages will be announced by the government. Technical teams will assess the extent of damage to structures and categorization of the affected villages will occur.
Listing of beneficiaries in these villages needs to be carried out in consultation with the Gram Panchayats or village development committees. People need to be informed through Gram sabhas or village assemblies.
NGOs can assist in organizing camps to inform communities and set up Lok Adalats/peoples courts in villages for redressal of grievances on the beneficiaries list. (After the Latur quake, several resurveys were done for over one year. The list of beneficiaries grew with each survey. Inclusion in the list became the focus of tremendous political pressure) .The process of listing could exclude beneficiaries belonging to minorities, vulnerable groups - women headed families, migrant labour, landless labour, disabled , destitute women, orphan girls and boys. Addressing gender issues in designing the entitlements –grants, house and land titles, credit and livelihoods is important.
Strengthen community institutions
Form village committees (with members of Gram Panchayats, women?s groups, ) to assist in survey and finalizing list of beneficiaries, in documentation for compensation, damage assessment,
Empower existing women?s groups to play a key role in reaching out information and resources to affected people
Recognize and strengthen the role of committed citizens and local women/ community groups in distribution of relief
2. COMMUNITY DRIVEN REHABILITATION STRATEGY
Key Elements
Build local capacities and skills instead of adopting a "brick and mortar" approach to reconstruction
Form village development committees with participation of existing community institutions and women?s groups as facilitators to manage entire rehabilitation
Community level monitoring of earthquake safety standards -- village committees to monitor progress, women?s groups trained to supervise earthquake safe construction, house owners informed on safety measures
Set up grievance redressal mechanisms at village, cluster (5 to 10 villages) and taluka to address conflicts on listing of beneficiaries and later for problem solving and effective feedback to government
Decentralization of administration so that financial and technical assistance is within the reach of affected communities (not mediated by intermediaries)
Plan for effective role of local governments/Gram Panchayats in planning and monitoring of rehabilitation ensure information flow and problem solving and provide infrastructure and services
Ensure information on earthquake safety measures and entitlements to all house owners by effective use of media and other strategies
Use of local skills and labour (retraining artisans on earthquake resistant technology)
Enhance social effectiveness of women by building capacities to move from margin to mainstream
Joint ownership of house and land titles – in the name of men and women
State and district level Government -NGO planning and coordination mechanisms for entire project period
State and district administration to facilitate vertical and horizontal convergence of internal structures to optimize use of public schemes
Facilitate public-private partnerships for economic and infrastructure development through convergence of resources and people
2.1 RECONSTRUCTION
State-led rebuilding of completely destroyed villages and towns – in situ construction
Adoption of villages by private sector agencies
Concerns:
-Relocation of villages could lead to creation of new infrastructure and services at enormous cost.
-Private sector may alienate the local leadership and communities and be insensitive to gender issues and participation by poor and lower caste groups out of just the fact that they may treat them as consumers and not participants.
-Government is unlikely to hold private sector agencies accountable to affected people
-Where construction of new earthquake safe houses will be carried out by private agencies/ religious trusts/donors NGOs or government agencies there is a need to effectively monitor not only construction quality but design and ensure that the process retains the social and cultural character of that local area.
Right to information on entitlements to affected people
Distribution of houses and assistance especially to women headed household?s minorities and weaker sections
Consultation with affected people on site location, housing and settlement layout, adequate provision for cattle and other animals, storage of grains, etc.
Functioning of village development committees
Women?s participation in community level planning
Training and employment of local artisans including masons and skilled labour in earthquake resistant technology
Construction of earthquake safe houses by the agencies
2.2 REPAIR AND STRENGHTENING OF HOUSES
-Repair and strengthening of damaged structures
-Reconstruction of safe rooms
-Retrofitting of vulnerable structures
It is likely that an owner driven effort to provide cash and materials to house owners will be initiated in the less affected areas across several districts. It is recommended that one time subsidy to house owners in the form of cash and materials be given .(instead of several installments).where the damage to structures is high /medium. In addition, low interest loans should be made available for those wanting to construct safe structures as part of a larger mitigation strategy. The policy and program support needed :
Appoint engineers for technical assistance to make plans and estimates with house owners for options on repair strengthening and reconstruction of homes.
Facilitate effective community participation by appointing community facilitators from women?s groups(similar to Latur rehabilitation effort ) for reaching out much needed information on entitlements, motivate people to contribute time, labour and skills, monitoring reconstruction of houses and providing on time information and feedback to the administration.
Empower Gram Panchayats for community problem solving – lack of masons, labour, lack of water, transport and delays in receiving assistance from the government etc.
Build local capacities and skills of artisans, informing house owners on earthquake safe technology by mass scale information and training strategy
Demonstration of low cost, community led alternatives from the relief phase, -temporary shelters, to repair/reconstruction of houses and building earthquake safe model houses/ community buildings
Ensure building codes and set up monitoing agencies at Gram Panchayats
Install flexible legal procedures to facilitate NGOs, CBOs groups of home owners to undertake repair and strengthening of houses.
Local organizations and NGOs can play role in developing capacities of local artisans, women?s groups etc.
ISSUES /CONCERNS THAT NEED TO ADDRESSED
*Retrofitting/Strengthening of Structures
The magnitude of work related to housing structures in the region is massive and retrofitting as a strategy is made very difficult because of the traditional houses which are built of stone and mud mortar .Even in houses constructed of cement concrete, retrofitting is a specialized operation.
*Ensuring use of earthquake resistant technology
Mass level training of masons in earthquake resistant technology
Mass level training of community volunteers to supervise ERT construction
Creation of supervisory cadre among youth and women?s groups trained to monitor earthquake safe construction
Use of mass communication strategies to educate house owners on new technology, materials and how to implement earthquake safety measures.
Institutional mechanisms for pilot and scaling up of EQR construction and innovations
Demonstrate alternatives in the areas of retrofitting of houses, low cost building materials, and training of skilled labour. The project will benefit from the creation of decentralised mechanisms such as area resource centers (which would function beyond the project) to disseminate information on reconstruction, earthquake safe technology,
Use of local labour, resources and building materials
The large scale nature of such intervention, construction materials, labour, planning and development activity will be externally determined - making affected people passive and forced into dependency. Experimentation, demonstration of the use of local materials – bricks, stone and mud and design should be encouraged. Training of local artisans and increasing skilled labour pool. This will prevent rendering local artisans jobless, and setting up of construction related business and services by outsiders.
*Information dissemination
Any amount of information given to people at this stage is not too much. People do not have means to acquire knowledge about safety measures to counter the after shocks. Similarly, there is a steep rise in myths and rumors as the fears of earthquakes continue. Scientific and correct information, demonstration of safe construction and mass level campaigns need to be done.
*Employment generation linked to reconstruction
Priority for use of local materials, local labour, skills and resources
Employment exchange - listing of skilled personnel, artisans,
Program for retraining of engineers, artisans and other personnel
Policy support and legal measures to facilitate implementation of contracts for reconstruction, repair and strengthening by CBOs, NGOs, cooperatives, etc.
SHRUJAN needs to start a work station in villages to give employment :
There are many organizations in Kutch that worked with women assisting then to sell traditional crafts. Over time there was a market both in the villages ( through tourism) and externally. The earthquake has destroyed all this. Chandaben Shroff who manages shrujan was in Kutch when the Earthquake hit Gujrat and when they went o villages, communities got two trucks of goods together and asked her to sell these in Bombay.
The idea now is to work out a way by which all this is sold and work tents are set up for women, This is both for livelihood reasons as well as for psychological reasons. The faster communities get into some collective routines the better, and women always cope better when they do things together, and this could be one such way.
Sudha Patel has set up a sales room for these things in MEWAR, which is on Pedder Road ( next to HSBC bank on the ground floor, you can call 3863371 and get directions and go and buy something between 10 am and 5 pm in the coming week. If things work out, she could extend this further. Here are some of the approximate rates, and the workmanship is great!
| item |
Rupees |
US $ |
| double quilts |
12000 |
255 |
| single |
8000 |
170 |
| Cushion covers |
600 |
13 |
| woolen shawls |
3500 |
74 |
| woolen scarves |
3000 |
64 |
evening purses
|
1000 |
21 |
For Further Details Contact Us at: admin@citywatchnews.net