An update on
Gujarat, 9 Aug 2001
[Ref: Letter to Leslie
Robertson from Gujarat]
Many of you may be interested in the latest update Leslie Robertson has received
from Gujarat. It does seem that the situation is far from improving, even
though it is no longer headline news.
If any Rotarian or Club wants to assist in any way, I am sure Leslie Robertson
will be happy to hear from you.
Assistant Governor Leslie can be contacted on P 01582 617443
F 01582 539892 or leslie.robertson@ntlworld.com
Latest email from Tarak follows, needing no explanation:
Subject:
UPDATE
Date:
Thu, 9 Aug 2001
21:52:49 +0530
From:
tarak@wilnetonline.net
To:
"LESLIE
ROBERTSON" <leslie.robertson@ntlworld.com>
Dear Leslie,
I have returned from a tour of the earthquake affected area and am very disturbed
with what I have seen. The situation in
Kutch area and also
in area where we are working , the situation is still bad. The rubble, debris
still unremoved. Many have got some aid either money and/or in
kind or/and both or through some means. But at the same time villages in
remote areas, some of the real backward tribal people are still
struggling to get something from either the government or any social organisation.
Their condition is real pitiable. After what I had seen,
I was really disturbed and my entire team was so moved that none of us could
speak anything for quite some time and coincidentally first word
each of uttered is that we should continue what we are doing and extend help
to these people. On having reported the situation, every member of my club has
pledged to do whatever we could.
We got a group of about 50 families of
"snake catcher" community who are living in very miserable
conditions as their houses have been
totally destroyed. About 5/6 people plus animals, all of them have just one
shelter of less than 12 sq. feet make of bamboo poles, jute cloths
etc. and my eyes were wet when I saw them suffering during downpour.These
would be the people who would be given shelters by us in due
course.
Whatever we could do would be a very small as compared to the mammoth
task of rehabilitating people. Once they have something as
shelter they can think further. Most of the male members are spending all
their time to get some help from somewhere. This is how it is.
I would keep you posted.
Thanks and Regards.
Tarak