A model village coming up

By Manas Dasgupta

BHUJ (Kutch), JUNE 9. ``The Gujarat government was totally paralysed and nonplused. It was in no position either to give direction to others or perform on its own. The service organisations who came from all parts of the country and abroad moved helter skelter in a state of confusion, did not know what to do. In this dismal situation came a light from Delhi....''

This damaging reference to the leadership of the Chief Minister, Mr. Keshubhai Patel, contradicting his claims of having mobilised the government machinery without any loss of time immediately after the January 26 earthquake, is contained in a Hindi booklet on ``Indraprastha'', the re-located village to rehabilitate the affected people of Dudhai in Bhuj taluk. The booklet is published by the ``Rashtriya Swabhiman'', a voluntary organisation floated by Mr. Patel's BJP colleague and former Delhi Chief Minister, Mr. Sahib Singh Verma.

It describes the situation in Kutch district a week after the tragedy when Mr. Verma visited the district and decided to adopt Dudhai, a village in Bhuj taluk totally devastated in the quake. The booklet was released on the occasion of the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee's visit to the village on Sunday last to formally inaugurate the project. Mr. Vajpayee, however, had to make do with a symbolic gesture of handing over the key of an incomplete house to a Dalit because the completion of the project, estimated to be over by May 31, was delayed. The booklet was also not kind to the Swaminarayan Sanstha, a religious organisation known for its voluntary social services in the State and other parts of the country at times of calamity. ``They were serving the people but did not know how to provide permanent relief to the quake-hit and learnt about it at the Rashtriya Swabhiman camp.''

But if the critical references are ignored, Mr. Verma has stolen a march over the Chief Minister in implementing the reconstruction programme. The target is to complete the 800 houses in Indraprastha with modern facilities and to develop it as a commercial hub for the surrounding villages, in just 100 days and pass on the dwellings to the beneficiaries. Mr. Verma is confident of completing the project by August 15, which still could be a record of sorts.

The Rs. 15-crore project does not take any governmental help nor will it be bound by any of the State Government's conditions for adopting a quake-hit village. The organisation, which collected funds from various sources, will also not seek 50 per cent of the amount from the Government kitty, promised by the Government.

Hailed by Mr. Vajpayee as a ``monument of humanitarian gesture,'' Indraprastha promises to be a model village. Besides the 800 houses, the village will have provision for constructing another 400 houses and have its own hospital, school, college, post office, bank, telephone exchange, police station, panchayat office, veterinary hospital, library, panchayat office, community centre and agricultural science centre.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : Consensus eludes U.N. meet on shelter
Next     : A resounding yes to reforms