Date:-15/02/2001

Sewa Bharti work in Earthquake

On the 26^th January when the deluge happened, Bharat Mata Poojan programs were in progress at number of places. These programs suddenly come to a halt and all the worker was rushed to the earthquake work.

Major damage was seen in Ahmedabad, Kutchh and Rajkot districts. Our volunteers sprang into action for locating , collecting and taking the injured for medical assistance as well as in the rescue work. All possible afforts were focused on saving human casualties and in excavating the debris to save those who got buried under rubble. Identification of the dead, locating their relatives wherever possible and in reaching them to the place of nearest medical assistance.

Dedication of Volunteers :

Many workers worked against all odds. It came to light that Shri Devshibhai Bhalodia of Jodia ran for help even though his own house had collapsed. Shri Chamanlala Kansara lost his daughter in the house collapsed still he came out for helping others. There were many more such cases, which can be cited at. At Bhatar road in Surat the Harekrishna complex collapsed. Volunteers who found valuables worth around 10 lakhs handed that amount over to the respective owners. Over 25,000 Volunteers are engagedat various places.

Medical help:

Medical camps were opened at Bhuj, Bhachau, Anjar, Rapar, Radhanpur, Patan, Dhanera, Disa, Unjha, Sidhhapur, Mehsana, Kadi and Kalol. Sewa is being rendered in hospitals at Ahmedabad, Jamnagar and Morbi. At Ahmedabad over 500 workers are covering Civil hospital, L.G. hospital, V.S. hospital and Shardaben hospital day and night. Besides these Dhanvantari trust , Karuna trust, Kutchh jain samaj trust have also accommodated patients from the earthquake affected areas. Many doctors have accommodated patients in their private hospitals too.

In Mumbai the Hinduja hospital , Lilavati hospital, K.E.M. hospital have more than 200 serious patients admitted for specialized treatments. Industrialist Shri Vimal Kedia and Shri Vasantrao Tambey (Maharashtra) are personally supervisingthe work .

* In Mumbai around 350 quake-affected patients are under going treatment

in different hospitals.

* In North Gujarat 2000 patients needing long duration treatments are being

Treated at four different centers.

The Relief Work:

There has been a large inflow of all kinds of foodstuff as well as shelter from all over the country. Alirajpur Sewa Bharati has sent blankets and tents . From Mumbai 2000 tants have been received. Akola Urban Bank has sent 8 truck loads of rice, dal, jagari, as well as blankets. Two and a half tone of dal have been received from Madhya pradesh. Similar aid continues to pour in.

Future plans:

A number of children who have lost their parents or atleast one of them need to be rehabilitated. Similarly many old men and women are rendered destitute. An orphanage for these children and an oldage-home for the old are to be set up.

Number of severely affected villages will be adopted for overall development and complete rehabilitation work through our various organisations.

10^th and 12^th class studentsawaiting examinationswill be provided with necessary educational kits(e.g. Books, notebooks, writing materials etc.) and arrangements for teaching and guidance will be organized.

Santwana (Household) Kits and Aannapurna (food grains) Kits will be distributed at places where our work is in progress.

There is also an urgent need of tents toprovide temporary shelter.

It needs to be stressed that the overall sympathy and support of the society at large has been beyond our imaginations and expectations.

We therefore appeal that liberal donations for this humanitarian cause be made in the name of Bhookamp Pidit Sahayata Nidhi ( Sewa Bharati Gujarat)** which enjoys Income tax exemption.

(VallabhM. Savalia)

Secretary, Sewa Bharati, Gujarat.

EARTHQUAKE RELIEF WORK DONE TILL 15/02/2001

BY SEWA BHARTI GUJARAT.

ú        Around 25,000 volunteersparticipated in all the work.

ú        Relief work is carried out in 801 Villages.

ú        Till today 1,964 trucks loads various goods received and dispatched necessary locations.

Future Plansÿ

v     Distribution of Santwana Kit one Lakh.

v     Special Lodging & Boarding Facilities 10 th & 12th Students.

v     An orphanage for the children.

v     Oldage-home for the old

v     Complete Hospital at Bhachau for 3 Months

v     Adoption of Villages-Name of Villages are being short listed and definite plans are expected to be ready by end of Feb,2001.