Earthquake in Gujarat - Update 32

Resettlement of our Communities affected by the Earthquake in Kutch and Mariya moves into the final phase

The earthquake of 26th January 2001 affected our communities in Kutch and Mariya. There was complete devastation in Mariya, Nagalpur and Bhuj and to a lesser extent in Kera and Mundra. The number of families affected are: Mariya 28 families; Bhuj 80 families; Nagalpur 32 families; Kera 7 families and Mundra 7 families.

Following the earthquake, the first phase in our resettlement programme was to ensure that immediate relief in terms of shelter, food, water and medicine was available. In conjunction with the Council of Gujarat and other charitable organisations of our community, the World Federation was able to ensure that this reached the areas within 24 hours.

The second phase of our effort was to provide income support and temporary housing. Monthly income support was given to each affected family through their Jamaats till August 2001. By the middle of July 2001 every affected family was housed in temporary housing. Again this phase was completed in conjunction with other charitable organisations of our community.

The master plan for the final phases of the resettlement programme was finalised in June 2001.

The third phase of the work involved assistance to businesses and economic upliftment. This phase was completed in October 2001. Interest free business loans were made available through the Jamaats. It must be emphasised that the thinking behind loans as opposed to handouts is to encourage long term self sufficiency and eradication of dependence by the community. Loans would be repaid to the Jamaats who will then reutilise the funds for ongoing economic upliftment of members of the Jamaats. 

The fourth phase is the rebuilding of permanent housing and religious centres. This work will take longer to complete and will require huge financial resources. 

To date with the generosity of our community world wide over £450,000 has been collected by the World Federation. 

The World Federation has so far spent the following amounts: 

Further funds are therefore required to complete the resettlement programme for our community in Kutch and Mariya. We request those who have pledged, to send in their donations urgently. We also request those who had been waiting for this final phase to start, to make their donations as soon as possible. 60 of the houses will be built through the Jamaats. If you would like to donate one in the name of your Marhoomeen, the cost will be £2,500 each. The rest of the homes will be built by owner occupiers with loans advanced by the Jamaats. Repayments will be reutilised by the Jamaats as loans for perpetual upliftment of the community.