Report on relief and rehabilitation measures in quake-hit areas of Gujarat asked for
The Commission has directed its Special Representative, Shri P.G.J. Nampoothiri, stationed in Ahmedabad, to report to it on the relief and rehabilitation measures being undertaken in the earthquake hit areas of Gujarat, so as to enable the Commission to take steps, if necessary, for issuing appropriate directions or guidelines to the concerned authorities of the Central or State Government for the purpose of facilitating the performance of the tasks that may be required.
The Commission has also decided to monitor the rehabilitation measures and, for this purpose, it has decided to depute its Secretary General to visit the affected areas at an appropriate time and submit his report. Further steps will be taken by the Commission after considering the information received from its Special Representative and the Secretary General. The Secretary General, who has already submitted an interim report after his first visit to the quake-hit parts of Gujarat, will soon be submitting his final report to the Commission after a second visit during which he will also hold discussions with the State Government officials and NGO representatives in Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad.
Taking suo motu cognizance of the calamity arising from the devastating earthquake, which hit large areas in the State of Gujarat, the Commission expressed its deep sense of sorrow and concern for the unprecedented loss of life and property as the result of this catastrophic event. The Commission noted that action is underway by the Central Government, the Government of Gujarat, various other State Governments, other nations, and national and international NGOs to provide immediate relief. It is aware that the daunting task of rehabilitation lies ahead, and that it is essential that the government machinery involved in rehabilitation should be able to take all the steps necessary for the equitable distribution of both relief as well as rehabilitation measures and that in the process, the poor, destitute women and children and old persons, who would be in greater need of relief and rehabilitation assistance, are not deprived and or made to suffer. The Commission is also aware that there is a need to look into issues relating to preparedness to face such calamities, especially as a considerable part of the country is in an earthquake prone zone. There is, in addition, need to look into the arrangements required to ensure the construction of earthquake proof buildings in vulnerable areas, and to ensure the coordination of disaster relief in a planned and rational manner.
The Chairperson and Members of the Commission have donated two days’ salary and the officers and staff of the Commission have donated one-day salary to the relief fund for the earthquake-affected in Gujarat. The contribution of Rs.1,00,690/- was transmitted to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
The Commission has also decided to monitor the rehabilitation measures and, for this purpose, it has decided to depute its Secretary General to visit the affected areas at an appropriate time and submit his report. Further steps will be taken by the Commission after considering the information received from its Special Representative and the Secretary General. The Secretary General, who has already submitted an interim report after his first visit to the quake-hit parts of Gujarat, will soon be submitting his final report to the Commission after a second visit during which he will also hold discussions with the State Government officials and NGO representatives in Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad.
Taking suo motu cognizance of the calamity arising from the devastating earthquake, which hit large areas in the State of Gujarat, the Commission expressed its deep sense of sorrow and concern for the unprecedented loss of life and property as the result of this catastrophic event. The Commission noted that action is underway by the Central Government, the Government of Gujarat, various other State Governments, other nations, and national and international NGOs to provide immediate relief. It is aware that the daunting task of rehabilitation lies ahead, and that it is essential that the government machinery involved in rehabilitation should be able to take all the steps necessary for the equitable distribution of both relief as well as rehabilitation measures and that in the process, the poor, destitute women and children and old persons, who would be in greater need of relief and rehabilitation assistance, are not deprived and or made to suffer. The Commission is also aware that there is a need to look into issues relating to preparedness to face such calamities, especially as a considerable part of the country is in an earthquake prone zone. There is, in addition, need to look into the arrangements required to ensure the construction of earthquake proof buildings in vulnerable areas, and to ensure the coordination of disaster relief in a planned and rational manner.
The Chairperson and Members of the Commission have donated two days’ salary and the officers and staff of the Commission have donated one-day salary to the relief fund for the earthquake-affected in Gujarat. The contribution of Rs.1,00,690/- was transmitted to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.