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Rajkot residents in dire need of tents

For the 30,000 families sleeping in the open for the last nine days since the quake reduced their houses to rubble, gazing at the clear winter sky and hoping for a shelter is the only option.

The Gujarat government claims that it has reached out to each and every family in Rajkot district, which has a population of over 2.5 million residing in 855 villages and many towns.

"There is enough food," says Laljibhai, who lost his son on January 26. "What we need is a tent where five members of my family can huddle together to escape the bone-chilling winds in the night."

Days are warm as the sun sends the temperature soaring to an uncomfortable 32 degree C, but after the sun sets, the mercury drops sharply to as low as 5 degrees C.

During an interview, District Collector A K Ramesh admits, "We urgently need tents. At least 20,000 more. Total requirement is around 30,000. Till Saturday, we have distributed only 7,000."

"I hope to get another 4,500 by Sunday from NGOs and other relief agencies," says Ramesh, who is supervising the relief and rehabilitation work in Morvi and Malia, two worst-affected taluks of Rajkot where over 350 people lost their lives.

The district administration has received Rs 200 million so far though the total loss of property, after a preliminary survey, is estimated at Rs seven billion.

Each family now gets a monetary assistance of Rs 10 per day per head. However, the government has fixed a ceiling of Rs 900 per family per month, he informed.

When asked why the government is taking so long to arrange for even basic necessities like tents, before Ramesh could answer, a cell-phone wielding Bharatiya Janata Party supporter reacted angrily.

"You mediapersons have really gone after the BJP government. You do not write the enormous task performed by the government and party workers. You only highlight the shortcomings in the massive operation," he said refusing to identify himself.

Ramesh pacified the party activist and said, "We need immediate financial assistance of Rs 500 million and tents in large numbers."

He hopes to provide by Tuesday, 11 days after the quake, tents to every affected family, he said. Till then, he and other officials, will have to face the angry crowds.

The government has restored electricity supply and revived the telecommunication network in the entire affected area, which has proved to be a boon.

"Absence of telecommunication network in the first four days of relief and rescue operation was a big handicap," says the district administration.

PTI

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