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Disaster Mitigation & Rehabilitation Activity :

If one swiftly moves through pages of any book on history of Kutch, one can find the description of adverse Geo-climatic conditions and series of grave Natural Disasters like Epidemics, Droughts, Famines, Cyclones and Earthquakes of sever intensity. Two Drought years and two cyclones in the last five years had shaken the lives of the people of Kutch and then on the 26th January 2001 the earth shook, the devastating earthquake affected the lives of all people of Kutch.

The very origin of Shree Vivekanand Research and Training Institute (VRTI) and its associate organization Shrujan is linked to this series of grave Natural Disasters, the drought spells of 1968, 1971 and 1975 th at engulfed the whole of Kutch, when the members of Shroff family (the founders of Excel Industries Limited) from Mumbai rushed in with teams of volunteers and monks of Ramakrishna Mission and joined for Relief Operations. Moved by the frequency of such natural calamities that unsettled the life of the people in Kutch, time and again, the Shroffs decided to provide an Institutional Approach towards fulfilling their social responsibilities. Thus, with the blessings of the Head Monk of Ramakrishna Mission, VRTI was formally established as an NGO in May 1978, initially to engage in Socio-Economic Development of this largest district on the national frontiers.

Ever since then, in times of disaster anywhere, for VRTI Rescue, Relief and Rehabilitation has become a part of its Moral and Social Commitment . Thus, it rushed its team of volunteers when Tidal Waves struck Coastal Andhra Pradesh in 1977, Floods occurred in Surat in 1969, Morbi in 1978 and Kutch in 1979, in 1993 to Latur Osmanabad districts of Maharashtra when Earthquake rocked these districts, in 1995 to Surat during the feared outbreak of Plague, the recent Cyclones in the years 1998 and 1999 that ravaged Kutch, and in 2000 for the Super-cyclone in Orissa.

However the worst of testing times for VRTI has followed from the aptly called "Killer Earthquake of 26th January, 2001". For the past 26 years, VRTI is wedded to the cause of Social & Economic Development of Kutch and, with its sister organizations viz. Shrujan, Vivekanand Gramodyog Society and Shroff Foundation Trust, owned up the moral responsibilities to provide a lead in the massive task of Relief and Rehabilitation. For VRTI it was a challenge, it was a test to live up to its commitment. For VRTI it means " Not Just Build Houses, It is to Re-build Lives in Kutch". We, at VRTI have a clear vision that the opportunity of facilitating reconstruction of houses is an entry point for more sustainable and dynamic development programmes.

Semi-permanent Shelters :

Constructing Permanent Shelter immediately after such devastation is a very difficult and complex process. As a result of which, it was necessary to provide for Temporary and Semi-permanent Shelters. VRTI took up this work and constructed 873 such structures for poor people in 26 villages. These shelters were constructed with active participation of beneficiaries.

Permanent Shelters

A massive awareness programme with demonstration of technologies was needed for construction of Permanent Shelters. We took up building of Demonstration Houses in 14 villages for Destitute and completed 79 of them by August / September 2001. We saw an opportunity in helping people to construct better, comfortable, safe houses by integrating their needs and resources with technologies, and provide workable and acceptable options. This strategy has paved way for partnership with people in seeking our assistance for reconstruction of their Houses. We are in process of building 6090 houses in 65 villages.

The necessary tools required for this type of massive activity and the given time frame requires Social Engineering, trained peoples with Rural Science as background. VRTI has a strong team of 75 such persons. We were very clear that the houses have not only to be Earthquake Resistant as per IS specification for Zone-5 and Cyclone Resistant, but have also to be Cost Effective. The participative process of rebuilding houses would not only reflect their needs into designs, but enough flexibility's have to be built in at operational level so that small changes can also be accommodated for each of the house.

Another important consideration was provision for extension of houses, so that the proper bondage is done whenever the owner decides to extend. Use of Local Material and Skills available had to be integrated into the design, so that Local Economy is helped and people can built their houses in future with ease, in cost effective manner. These small details not only go a long way for meeting the crucial needs of the family members, but help maintaining the traditions.

The process covered 65 villages as follows:

  1. Arranging series of formal and informal Gram Sabhas and Consultation with Individual Groups.
  2. Had consultations with Architectures and Structural Engineers to convert the needs of the rural groups in to an acceptable design and structure. Five designs were evolved and tested with people.
  3. Had incorporated the technical requirements of Earthquake Resistant houses prescribed by Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority and Government of Gujarat into the designs.
  4. A Village Committee was formed and made responsible to take all the decisions including the Local Purchase etc. and Beneficiary Involvement to ensure very cost effective, and good quality houses.
  5. To ensure involvement of beneficiary, digging of foundation and curing is being done by beneficiary.
  6. The estimates of such designed houses were broken into four stages of construction, showing the requirement of material and labour. They were put up in each of these villages, so that people can make choice and will be able to construct homes themselves with our assistance, with required changes if any by individuals.
  7. The requirements of Government for preparing project report for each of the village and then entering in a Memorandum of Understanding with Collector & Government was also done to the satisfaction of authorities. Realizing the massive requirement for masons, in addition to Government sponsored programme for Training Masons, VRTI with the assistance of Ambuja Cement Ltd., have trained 285 persons as masons, in one month long training class. Most of these trained masons are engaged in construction work undertaken by VRTI in their village.

      8. The requirements of Cement Block being huge and the local capacity being very limited, it was a challenge. The Local Entrepreneurs with required skills were identified, trained and were encouraged to take up the work. We supported them with supply of machinery and necessary infrastructure. The Machine purchased by us is given to the entrepreneur at end of the project, as One Rupee is deducted for each cement block manufactured, towards cost of machine. Around 25 such entrepreneurs have started manufacturing cement blocks in and around the rehabilitation villages.

      VRTI is also very conscious of Quality of Material & Workmanship. Very close supervision is also ensured. Training of Engineering Supervisors in all the aspects of quality was done frequently.

      VRTI has planned 6090 houses, out of which 320 houses are completed and 2317 are under construction. We are likely to complete 1000 houses by end of January, and another 2000 by end of March. Rest will be completed by end of June 2002.

      Retrofitting of Damaged Houses

      VRTI has hired a team of experienced engineers in Retrofitting and is demonstrating the Art of Retrofitting. We have already covered 11 villages and there is huge demand generated forknow-how of technology and supply of material like wire-mesh. We are trying to cover 1000 such houses. Housing for People Below Poverty Line (BPL)

      The disturbing fact is that reconstruction of Houses for BPL got neglected in absence of a clear-cut policy decision. We at VRTI took up this cause with the Government and with Human Rights Commission and it resulted in changes in the Procedure and Policy. VRTI is planning to reconstruct at least 2000 houses for the people Below Poverty Line.

      School and Community Buildings

      VRTI is also helping in the sphere of resuming Education of School Children by constructing 45 rooms for School Buildings in Nine villages. An amount of Rs. 13,20,000 has also been donated from our Education Fund to Veerayatan. We are also into putting up Social Infrastructure by constructing Multi Purpose and Multi Functional Community Centers in 6 villages of Kutch district.

      Repair Work of Water Harvesting Structures

      Earthquake shook very large number of Water Harvesting Structures (468) and Minor Irrigation Dams (152) in Kutch. There was a need of attending immediately to the repairs of these structures, and if these dams are not repaired, Kutch will face another disaster, as these structures are the lifelines of Kutch. Government and NGOs marshaled their resources and manpower and almost all the damaged dams were repaired. VRTI also repaired 17 such dams. Workshed for Dhamadaka Village

      Dhamadaka Village, known world over for the unique natural dyed textile product was completely destroyed. The village lost 144 lives, along with houses and 112 Worksheds of fabric Printing and Dyeing in this village and in nearby villages.

      VRTI has taken up the work of Economic Rehabilitation of the people by restoring the means to earn livelihood and thereby the dignity and self-esteem of the traumatized victims of the earthquake. In the process VRTI is into reconstruction of 112 Worksheds, which will cater to the need of 682 artisans at a cost of Rs.150 lakhs. VRTI has also taken up the work of constructing 40 worksheds in Juna Jamthada village.

      Livelihood for Women

      Shrujan, a sister organization of VRTI, has achieved the goal of maintaining high quality standards in the embroidered works of Kutchi women Karigars. Shrujan has so far trained 18,000 women artisans (Karigars) of Kutch. Till the time of the devastating earthquake, Shrujan provided work to 2940 women from 86 villages.

      After the killer -quake, the major requirement is to rehabilitate the livelihood of women artisans. Temporary accommodation of the affected has been made in make-shift tents. Several families stay together in these tents. Around 3000 women have restarted their work. Shrujan has planned 42 Work Stations, which would function as work place in addition to having common infrastructure for working women. Seven such Work Stations are already completed and another Seven are nearing completion. It is also in the process of constructing another 28 Work Stations.

      Helping Hand for Helpless and Handicapped

      RTI has a unique scheme called 'Helping Hand for Helpless & Handicapped' to prevent the victims of earthquake from becoming prey to unsocial activities. This scheme is specifically meant for victims of the earthquake. Every month we distribute an amount of Rs 500 to each of the 198 beneficiary aggregating to Rs 99,000 per month. Now we are planning to provide training to these beneficiaries so that they can take up some vocation and be self-dependent in the long run.

      Drought Proofing Programme

      Frequent occurrence of droughts and famines; have been the root causes of economic backwardness of Kutch. The devastating cyclones during 1998 and 1999, and the killer earthquake of 2001 shattered the morale of the people of Kutch.

      VRTI as a long established NGO of Kutch took the initiative in offering collective response to such natural disasters. Kutch Nav Nirman Abhiyan a confederation of Kutch NGOs took shape during the cyclones. A well -knit programme of drought-proofing has been conceived for Kutch. Appreciating the pious objectives and holistic approach adequate financial support has been assured from the Union Ministry of Rural Development and the Prime Ministers Relief Fund. Work on this programme would begin as the Earthquake Rehabilitation Activities nears completion stage. VRTI being an NGO of long standing will play a lead role as one of the Programme Implementing Agencies.