1975 FAMINE OF GUJARAT
Category |
Famine |
Account |
The Gujarat and Maharashtra governments
announced a state of emergency as the second consecutive
famine struck both states. |
Area affected |
Entire states of Gujarat and Maharashtra. |
Water source |
No rain in two years. No water in wells
or reservoirs. |
People |
Tens of millions affected. |
Livestock |
Tens of millions of cattle perished. |
Migration |
Thousands fled affected areas. |
|
HELP
BY BAPS ORGANISATION
|
|
Area helped
|
:
|
Towns and villages in both Gujarat and Maharashtra.
|
As the famine continued into its
second year, BAPS also continued its relief work. More centres
and volunteers were involved to provide relief for a growing
need:
No. |
BAPS
centres involved |
Area
helped |
1 |
Bhadra |
Jamnagar and Kutch Districts |
2 |
Gondal |
Rajkot and Junagadh Districts |
3 |
Gadhada |
Amreli District |
4 |
Sarangpur |
Bhavnagar and Surendranagar
Districts |
5 |
Badalpur |
Borsad Block |
6 |
Dadara Nagar Haveli |
Silvassa Block |
COLLECTING FOOD GRAINS:
BAPS called a special
meeting in Vadodara and formulated a team of BAPS volunteers
that travelled from village to village, town to town collecting
food grains and grass to be sent to the worst affected regions.
The volunteers covered over 160 villages in a short span
of time and sent relief aid to the BAPS centre in Gondal
which coordinated distribution.
FOOD GRAIN & BUTTERMILK
DISTRIBUTION
To alleviate the pains of starvation, more almshouses and
buttermilk distribution centres were opened to cater a larger
number of people. Almshouses were opened in the districts of
Jamnagar, Bhavnagar, Surendranagar, Amreli, Rajkot and Junagadh.
No. |
Districts |
No.
of families receiving grains everyday |
1 |
Jamnagar |
300 |
2 |
Rajkot & Junagadh |
800 |
3 |
Amreli |
700 |
4 |
Bhavnagar & Surendranagar |
1000 |
5 |
Borsad Block |
400 |
|
Total |
3,200 |
Roughly, 3,200 families received food grains everyday
until the famine ended.
Buttermilk distribution centres were opened in Gondal, Gadhada,
Bhadra, Sarangpur, Bhavnagar, Rajula, Dadara Nagar Haveli,
Surendranagar and Rajkot. BAPS members in London had sent large
quantities of milk powder which was used to make yoghurt and
buttermilk.
HOT MEAL CENTRES
Hot meals continued to be served at major BAPS centres located
at Gondal, Bhadra, Gadhada and Sarangpur in the affected regions.
No. |
BAPS
Centres |
No.
of people served everyday |
1 |
Bhadra |
200 |
2 |
Gondal |
300 |
3 |
Gadhada |
250 |
4 |
Sarangpur |
300 |
|
Total |
1,050 |
Roughly, 1,050 people were served hot cooked meals
twice everyday until the famine ended.
CLOTHES DISTRIBUTION
When the famine struck
the lands of Gujarat and Maharashtra, BAPS members in London
to collected funds and clothes for distribution. 35 tonnes
of clothes were collected from London and shipped to Bombay.
From Bombay they were transported to the famine areas in
Gujarat and Maharashtra for free distribution.
Apart from distributing clothes in villages, BAPS centres
in Selvas, Bhavnagar, Rajula, Sarangpur, Gondal, Gadhada, Badalpur,
Bhadra, Rajkot, Surendranagar, Junagadh and Kutch distributed
clothes to roughly 6,500 extremely poor individuals.
LIVESTOCK CARE
To help save the lives of hundreds of starving cattle, BAPS
opened rearing centres and fodder distribution centres in the
region of Saurashtra. Roughly 425 cattle heads were cared for
until the famines ended after which they were safely returned
to their owners.
No. |
BAPS
Cattle Camps |
No.
of cattle catered for: |
1 |
Gadhada |
100 |
2 |
Gondal |
150 |
3 |
Sarangpur |
175 |
|
Total |
425 |
BAPS volunteers also
distributed fodder and grass to farmers in the district
of Jamnagar, Amreli, Rajkot, Gondal, Junagadh, Bhavnagar
and Surendranagar.
FINANCIAL AID
In order to raise funds for the victims of the famine, BAPS youth
volunteers and members from Vidyanagar presented cultural programmes
at Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Nadiad, Anand, Bhavnagar, Rajkot and
Junagadh. The funds were mainly used to provide food grains and
milk powder to famine victims and the remaining balance of Rs.11,000/-
was donated to the Gujarat Chief Minister's Relief Fund.
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