Continuing Earthquake Relief Work
by BAPS Charities

04.23.2002

On 9 January 2002, during the main Swaminarayan Mahamantra Bicentenary assembly, Pramukh Swami Maharaj presented a wooden model house to the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Narendra Modi, to symbolize the transfer of the villages and schools rebuilt by BAPS to the Government of Gujarat.

An Executive Summary

Introduction
Following the devastating earthquake on 26th January 2001 in Gujarat, India, which killed thousands and wounded and crippled over 150,000, the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, an international socio-spiritual organization with over 8,100 centers and 45,000 volunteers, moved in with immediate help. Disaster Management is one of the 160 humanitarian activities of BAPS, which include medical, educational, social, moral, spiritual and cultural activities.

Rescue & Relief
Within hours, BAPS was directly involved in rescue, relief and rehabilitation. Initially rescuing survivors, BAPS volunteers cremated hundreds of bodies of the unfortunate victims. Through a team of 60 sadhus and 450 volunteers on site and a support team of 6500 volunteers, relief camps were set up which provided food and shelter along with socio- psycho-spiritual rehabilitation. BAPS distributed clothes, utensils, and essential relief supplies to the affected people in more than 409 remote villages.

Details Of Relief Material Distributed

Food Camps :
For the first 45 days, BAPS served hot meals to over 40,000 people daily at many places. Hot food was prepared everyday and served at the following camps

Medical Help : In addition to the medical camps set up immediately after the tragedy, BAPS is still continuing with the services of its 4 Mobile Medical Vans, which have served more than 45,000 patients till date.

Special Services Rendered :
In Soyla village, BAPS provided all facilities such as tents, clothes, foodgrains, utensils for the 100 Muslim families of the villlage. They were also given seeds and grass for their fields and cattle.
In Dinara village, the 88 harijan families were given tents, food and clothing by BAPS.
Many more such villages and groups were helped all over the affected area by BAPS.

Rehabilitation
BAPS has provided Temporary, Permanent and long term Economic rehabilitation programs.

Villages & Colonies :
BAPS has begun its rehabilitation campaign of rebuilding 1,529 houses in 6 villages and 3 colonies. In these villages, BAPS is rebuilding the full village to make it habitable. The structures, in addition to Houses, will include Roads, Electricity and Sanitation systems, Bal Mandir (Kindergarten), Primary School or Secondary School, Water Tank (with pipeline), Panchayat House, Temple, and in addition, on the basis of necessity, a Gaushala, Primary Health Center and Community Hall.

Personnel
An experienced team of 35 BAPS architects, engineers and supervisors are providing the expertise for efficient construction. More than 1,100 workers are carrying on the work in full swing at the sites, under the able direction of sadhus.

Schools :
321 classrooms in 43 schools, catering to thousands of students, being built by the BAPS are under construction, at various stages of completion.

Schools in Kutch District

Schools in Surendranagar & Rajkot district