Proposal for Nepal Earthquake Relief
Table of Contents
Current Scenario in Nepal post earthquake ............................................... 2
Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana (BJS)-About Us ................................................ 3
BJS in Disaster Response ........................................................................... 4
Nepal Earthquake Relief Project................................................................. 5
A) Phase 1a: Providing clothing, fresh food and other household material ........5
B) Phase 1 b: Onsite medical Relief Project .....................................................6
The functional scope ................................................................................6
Manpower ...............................................................................................6
C) Phase II: Reconstruction of schools and primary health centers ....................7
Request for Support ................................................................................... 8
Annexure 1: Past Efforts of BJS in Disaster Response .................................. 9
Rescue, Relief and Rehabilitation in Latur earthquake, 1993: ......................9
Rescue, Relief and Rehabilitation after Gujarat earthquake, 2001 ...............10
Rescue, Relief and Rehabilitation in Tamil Nadu and
Andaman & Nicobar Tsunami, 2004 ........................................................11
Rescue, Relief and Rehabilitation after J& K earthquake, 2005...................13
1
Proposal for
Nepal Earthquake
Relief
Current Scenario in Nepal post earthquake
The recent catastrophic earthquake in Nepal measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale has
left thousands dead and several more injured. This brings to light the dire need for
food, shelter, water and timely medical aid and facilities to provide relief to those
rescued. More importantly, ensuring smooth logistics has become imperative to make
the resources and relief accessible to the needy. Going by the reports up to 90 per
cent of the health facilities in Ramechapp, Nuwakot, Sindhupalchowk and Gorkha
have been severely damaged. There is evidence of unrest in relation to limited water
supplies. Uneven distributions pose a risk of generating animosity amongst the
affected people. After shocks continue to haunt the local population which has been
spending days battling the dampness and the cold. While district specific information
continues to trickle in, over 8 million people are estimated to be affected in 39
districts, of which over 2 million people live in the 11 most worst affected districts.
2
Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana (BJS) - About Us
Established in the year 1985 under the leadership of Mr. Shantilal Muttha, Bharatiya
Jain Sanghatana (BJS), a non-political, non-profit organization head quartered in
Pune, India has been in the forefront of addressing national concerns in the areas of
Disaster Response , Educational Initiatives, and Social Development over last 30 years
since 1985.
Over the years of its existence, BJS has practised and perfected its
approach and work processes in these chosen areas of work. BJS has built a strong
country wide network of human resources and state-of-the-art infrastructure that has
enabled it to reach out to millions in its quest for nation building. It has a rich and
multi dimensional experience of working at the grassroots, as well as contributing to
the policy level thought process and decision making. BJS has worked actively with
governments both State and Central, NGOs across the country as well as communities
in the implementation of many of its projects. BJS's sterling achievements through the
years have been recognized and felicitated by many national and international
agencies.
3
BJS in Disaster Response
BJS stands apart from other humanitarian agencies in its approach towards relief and
rescue. The main strength of BJS is its ability to mobilize a strong team of volunteers at
a moment's notice and have it report to any part of the country within a few hours of a
disaster. The response from this well trained and disciplined volunteer force is not only
emotional; it is also organized and effective. The task force is extremely sensitized and
takes utmost efforts to ensure that the dignity of the affected is maintained. The roles
and responsibilities of the various members are clearly defined and the
communication between the various teams within the task force is clear and
precise. BJS also has innovated a methodology whereby it can reuse the relief material
used in one disaster for a subsequent disaster. In all the major disasters that have
unfortunately affected the country starting from the Latur earthquake of 1993, the
Akola floods in 1997, the Gujarat earthquake in 2001, the Andaman Tsunami in
2004 , J&K earthquake of 2005, Bihar floods 2008 to name a few. BJS has always
been in the forefront of the relief and rescue efforts earning appreciation and respect
of the other collaborating agencies and the affected survivors of the tragedy. The
National Disaster Management Authority, NDMA even approached BJS for the
strategy and execution of the relief and rescue operations for the J&K earthquake in
2005.
(Plz refer Annexure 1 for details on some of the past projects of BJS).
4
Nepal Earthquake Relief Project
BJS with its 30 years of experience in disaster response has laid down the following
proposal to contribute to the disaster response measures needed in the affected areas
in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake. The BJS National President Mr Prafulla
Parakh will be steering the entire Nepal operations under the guidance of its Founder
Shri Shantilal Muttha. Mr Parakh has been associated with BJS for more than 20 years
and was in also in charge of the A&N relief operations of BJS in 2004-05. He will be
supported by the country wide network of BJS volunteers who will be deployed as
required to undertake the management of the entire project.
BJS is implementing the work in two phases;
Phase I
1) Providing clothing, fresh food and other household material.
2) BJS onsite medical relief for the victims.
Phase II
1) Reconstruction of schools and health centers.
A) Phase 1a: Providing clothing, fresh food and other
household material
With our past experience of providing good quality, nutritious and hygienic food for
more than 10000 people consistently for a month during the disasters of Latur
earthquake-1993, Gujarat earthquake-2001 and the J&K earthquake- 2005, BJS has
already deployed a team of its volunteers led by Mr Ashok Pawar who will be in
charge of the following services to be immediately commenced under the relief
operations:
•
Providing utensils, clothing and other basic items of daily need in the disaster
affected districts identified by the BJS personnel.
•
Setting up a community kitchen with high standards of hygiene maintained to
provide food and water to the needy on a large scale.
5
B) Phase 1 b: Onsite medical Relief Project
The functional scope
Looking at the existing inadequacy of the medical infrastructure and its urgent need in
the disaster affected and remote areas of Nepal, BJS plans to undertake the following
for providing medical relief on site.
a) Creation of a central medical facility- This is intended to be a hospital like setup with air conditioned, water proof and weather resistant, tent type
infrastructure having the following features:
•
Facility for check ups and treatment for the Out Patient Department
•
Facility of diagnostic and surgical machinery/equipment
•
Facility for few hospital beds for patients who need to be admitted
•
A mini Operation Theatre to perform minor surgeries
•
A store for medicines and medical supplies
b) Mobile Tele medicine vans with an operation theater for reaching out to more
people in remote villages
c)
Conducting medical camps for orthopedic support like artificial limb prosthetic
services ( eg. the Jaipur foot), camps for dental, gynaecology, paediatric
treatment and other services as required.
Manpower
a) Project in charge-The Onsite Medical Relief Project will be managed and
supervised under the able leadership of Dr. Kantilal H. Sancheti , the renowned
orthopaedic surgeon who has been bestowed with the country’s three greatest
honours namely the Padmashree, Padmabhushan and the Padma Vibhushan by
the government of India, a rare feat in itself. Dr Sancheti holds the academic
degrees and fellowships of M.S. (Ortho), F.R.C.S (Edinburgh) U.K., Ph.D (Ortho),
F.I.C.S., F.A.C.S. (U.S.A). He is also the proud recipient of the International Award
for Medical Excellence by Harvard Medical School, US. He has held the posts of
Professor Emeritus in Orthopaedics, Chief Orthopaedic Surgeon, Sancheti Hospital
& Centre for Joint Replacement Surgery, Pune, Director and Chief Orthopaedic
Surgeon, Sancheti Institute for Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation (SIOR), founded in
1972. He has also been the Chairman, Post Graduate Institute of Orthopaedics,
Post Graduate Institute for Physiotherapy and Hospital Management, Hon.
Orthopaedic Surgeon to the Governor of Maharashtra and Indian Armed Forces,
Hon. Professor, Examiner, and member of several high level core committees of
various universities and Health Care related committees of Government of
Maharashtra and Medical Council of India,
President Indian Orthopaedic
Association and Past President of Maharashtra Orthopaedic Association. The
Sancheti Institute for Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, a state of the art medical
6
facility which he owns in Pune specializes in Joint Replacement, Traumatology,
Spinal Surgery, Paediatrics, Orthopaedic, Arthroscopy and Sports Injuries, Hand
and Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Sancheti will be in charge of all the medical interventions of BJS in Nepal. He
will be assisted by Dr. Vijay Setia from Pune. This team has been instrumental in
operationalizing the medical relief facilities during several disaster response
projects undertaken by BJS in the past. They have accepted our request to
undertake this project on account of their close association with BJS for last 25
years.
b) Project management and logistic support: BJS is supported by the country
wide network of BJS volunteers who will be deployed as required to undertake the
management of the entire project. Moreover BJS also has the support of the Jain
community in Nepal. Mrs. Rajani Golcha who is a Member of Parliament in Nepal
is an active member of the community and will offer his full fledged support for
our operations. The BJS Head Office in Pune will be providing all the coordination
and communication support required for the field operations.
c) Technical expertise: BJS is in talks with the top 10 medical colleges in Pune for
sourcing the doctors and anesthetists who would be required to be stationed in
Nepal . Likewise BJS is also reaching out to the nursing colleges near Nepal for
sourcing the paramedical staff to be stationed on site.
BJS envisions the medical relief project to provide the diagnostic, emergency,
operative and post operative care under one roof by way of a properly equipped
medical facility to cater to the needs of the affected population.
C) Phase II: Reconstruction of schools and primary health
centers
With the experience of our past efforts of reconstructions of schools, primary health
centres and primary health sub centres especially in Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and A&N,
BJS would undertake the following:
•
Conduct a detailed assessment of the devastation
•
Identify the sites for reconstruction of schools, PHCs, PHSCs as required
•
Seek necessary permissions from various authorities
•
Draft the blueprint of the reconstruction project and seek approval from the
required authorities
This phase can be carried out only after a detailed study and need analysis of the
disaster affected sites. The project plan including permissions and the estimated cost
shall be submitted by the end of May 2015.
7
Request for Support
In order to facilitate our large scale operations for providing food, shelter and medical
relief in the quake affected areas of Nepal, BJS wishes to solicit the support of
interested agencies/organizations/institutions in any of the following ways:
a) Monetary donations : The monetary donations would be accepted in the form of
a Demand Draft in the name of Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana payable at Pune. The
certificate of exemption under Section 80G would be provided to the donor.
b) In kind donations would be primarily needed in the following areas:
•
Provision of food supplies
•
Provision of tele medicine vans and/or ambulances
•
Provision of slightly refurbished hospital equipment
•
Provision of commonly used medicines and medical supplies
•
Provision of domes/ water proof tents,
•
Provision of generator
Please note that the in kind donations would have to be provided directly on site by
the donors.
c) Support for Human Resources- Medical and paramedical staff comprising
doctors, trained nurses etc would be required to be stationed on site.
Interested donors/agencies are earnestly requested to come forward and identify their
area of interest to pitch in their contributions in any of the above mentioned
categories.
Further
details
will
be
furnished
to
the
respective
agencies/organizations/institutions accordingly.
The logos/names of the donor agencies/individuals would be displayed permanently
on the mobile vehicles like vans and ambulances. Donors would also be furnished
with regular status reports of the Nepal Earthquake Relief Project and would be invited
to visit the disaster affected sites.
We hope to avail your assistance and support for the successful implementation of this
crucial project.
8
Annexure 1:
Past Efforts of BJS in Disaster Response
From 1993, when BJS forayed into disaster response with the Latur earthquake till the
2013 Maharashtra drought, BJS has intervened in 14 major disasters in the country
including the Andaman & Nicobar. Presenting below are the highlights of a few of the
projects undertaken by BJS which can be replicated for the scale of operations and the
strategy involved along with a very high degree of intense coordination and fruitful
collaboration between BJS and other agencies, NGOs as well as central/ state
governments.
Rescue, Relief and Rehabilitation in Latur earthquake, 1993:
In September, 1993 an earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale devastated
Latur and Osmanabad districts in Maharashtra. The loss of life and property was
unimaginable. Thousands were rendered homeless and destitute. Many humanitarian
agencies responded to this disaster for the relief and rescue operations. BJS was
amongst the first organizations to react with around 800 of its volunteers reaching the
disaster site within just a few hours of the tragedy.
Project highlights
•
BJS adopted 9 villages from amongst the worst affected and established its camps with the
entire infrastructure required to provide relief and rescue measures.
•
Generator sets, mobile two-way communication equipment, food supplies, tents and utensils
were made available to facilitate the relief operations.
•
BJS provided freshly prepared meals to around 30,000 affected over a period of one month
•
BJS brought to Pune 1,000 traumatized boys from 29 affected villages in Latur-Osmanabad
districts for educational rehabilitation. The entire responsibility of their food, lodging,
healthcare and education from Std V to graduation was shouldered by BJS.
•
In order to sustain the efforts of educational rehabilitation, BJS also set up a huge state- ofthe- art infrastructure – the Wagholi Educational Rehabiliatation Centre (WERC) in Pune with
facilities for hostel, healthcare, canteen, school, junior as well as senior college.
•
The WERC is presently used to extend the rehabilitation services for 500 children brought in
from the malnourished tribal belts of Melghat and Dahanu in Maharashtra.
9
Rescue, Relief and Rehabilitation after Gujarat earthquake,
2001
On January 26th, 2001, Gujarat reverberated to one of the worst earthquakes in
India’s history measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale. The epicenter in the northern
province of Gujarat was a scene of devastation.
Project Highlights
•
Shri Shantilalji Muttha along with his team of highly dedicated and empathetic students and
teachers from the Wagholi Education Rehabilitation Center who had undergone a similar
experience in Latur, reached Gujarat for the relief operations. 400 BJS volunteers also
reached the disaster site within 3 days of the earthquake.
•
Relief centers were set up at various places. Bhachau and Samkhiyali were the two major
centers.
•
BJS made arrangements to provide cooked food, clothes and medicines to 30,000 people on
a daily basis.
•
Arrangements were also made for cremating the dead bodies.
•
BJS sent a group of medical practitioners, general surgeons, orthopedic surgeons from Pune
to the two functional hospitals near Rajkot. BJS organized blood donation camps in Pune, in
association with the Gujarat medical relief work
Rehabilitation:
•
BJS and Jalgaon Khandesh Earthquake Rehabilitation Trust (JKERT) headed by Shri
Sureshdada Jain together took up the challenging task of rebuilding the schools. Just after 12
days from the day of the disaster, on February 7th 2001 the first school was raised out of the
ruins at Samkhiyali, near Bhachau.
•
In a record time of 90 days, BJS constructed 368 schools thus guaranteeing quality education
to 1,25,000 students who came back to school. These 368 schools were handed over to the
government of Gujarat on June 3rd 2001, at the auspicious hands of the then Hon. Prime
Minister, Shri. Atal Bihari Vajpayee and then Hon. Home Minister, Shri. Lal Krishna Advani to
the then Chief Minister Shri Keshubhai Patel.
10
Rescue, Relief and Rehabilitation in Tamil Nadu and
Andaman & Nicobar Tsunami, 2004
The disastrous Tsunami, which hit the east coast of India, brought about a huge
amount of damage to life, property and environment. The Andaman and Nicobar
group of 38 islands well known for their natural beauty suffered heavy destruction to
human lives and property of the most intense nature in the recent history.
Rescue & Relief at Tamil Nadu-Project highlights
•
The rescue & relief operations were done through 6 relief camps.
•
200 temporary shelters were constructed
•
Relevant permissions from the concerned Government were sought,
within a short time span of 4-5 days
•
Cooking hygienic food & distributing food, water and other items of daily
need systematically to the villagers.
•
Providing immediate Medical Aid Attending to emergencies & distribution
of medicines.
•
Providing financial help for construction of huts
11
Education & Health Rehabilitation In A&N –Project highlights
•
Establishment of infrastructure / a center in Port Blair: A full-fledged office with
complete infrastructure for communication was established in Port Blair to coordinate relief
and rehabilitation activities from close quarters. A professional and high-powered team led
by the then BJS National Secretary Mr. Prafulla Parakh was stationed at Port Blair to supervise
and guide the reconstruction activities.
•
Medical Equipment & Medicines for PHCs & PHSCs: BJS provided ambulances,
medicines, equipments and other nutrients for the use of PHCs & PHSCs. For this the medical
equipment and medicines were imported through Direct Relief International (DRI). BJS had to
convince the central, state & local government officials to exempt the supplies from customs
duties, taxes, octroi, etc. The project was extremely difficult to implement, and required
enormous efforts from the BJS team involving volunteers as well as skilled and specialized
professionals. All materials as well as the project team had to be brought from the main land
to respective sites in the farflung islands.
•
Reconstruction of Schools, PHCs and PHSCs: The plan to reconstruct 11 schools and 34
health centres was drafted and relevant permissions sought. It is to be noted that owing to the
commendable work of BJS in past for disaster response, BJS secured special exemptions to
operate in the otherwise protected islands of A&N.
•
Training to labourers: Since reconstruction work in Andaman and Nicobar is different from
reconstruction work at any other place on account of the difficult terrain, even skilled
labourers required some training before starting the work. For this purpose, a Delhi based
NGO supported BJS to provide training to the labourers of our contractors on quality
construction.
•
Generation of employment for local people: For BJS, the project was also a means to
generate employment for local people. All the contractors were local people. The projects
gave them an opportunity to earn their livelihood, which in turn helped them to recover from
the trauma of the Tsunami.
•
Handing over of Schools / Health Centres: In just one year, BJS built 11 schools, 30
Primary Health centers and 4 Primary Health Sub-Centers at A&N Islands. Formal handing
over ceremony was organised for each and every school and health centre and sub centre.
The representative of the respective donor handed over the structure to the administration.
12
Rescue, Relief and Rehabilitation after J& K earthquake,
2005
On Oct 8, 2005, a Mw 7.6 earthquake struck causing widespread destruction in an
area of 30,000 sq km covering parts of Pakistan and India’s western and southern
Kashmir. This was the deadliest earthquake in the recent history of Indian
subcontinent, with more than 80,000 fatalities. 200,000 people injured, and more
than 4 million people left homeless.
Project Highlights
Rehabilitation:
•
Provision of temporary shelters: Temporary shelters resistant to the chilling temperatures of the
higher altitudes were in urgent need. Meanwhile National disaster Management Authority
(NDMA), an apex body in the disaster management in India contacted BJS wherein, they
requested BJS to provide assistance in the rehabilitation of the affected population.
•
BJS adopted the strategy of recycling building material used in Gujarat after 2001 earthquake to
provide shelters to J&K earthquake affected people. BJS chalked out a plan of dismantling these
temperature proof prefabricated structures which were used as temporary school buildings in
Gujarat after the 2001 earthquake and transporting them to J&K to be used as temporary
shelters.
•
This was validated by the feasibility report submitted by the expert committee from J&K Road
&Building Department after the inspection by their technical team in Gujarat. NDMA signed an
MOU with BJS after the central Gov. / NDMA had various meetings with the then Home Minister,
Shri. Shivraj Patil to understand the feasibility, modalities of the proposal of BJS.
•
BJS was able to send all the 870 prefabricated structures to J&K as per the rules and norms
specified in the MOU, within the specified time. With the assistance of BJS technical team J&K
construction team erected all the 870 prefabricated structures admeasuring 3,34,000 sq ft of
constructed area within the specified time span of 50 days. Temporary shelters resistant to
chilling weather conditions were ensured to 15,000 earthquake affected people and BJS was
able to protect them from the freezing temperatures of the winter.
•
The cognizance of this extraordinary feat of BJS was taken in the Lok Sabha proceedings in a
statement made by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs on 28th Nov 2005
•
501 boys/orphans from various districts of Kashmir were selected for their educational
rehabilitation in WERC Pune. They were flagged off in a special train in the presence of the then
Chief Minister of J&K Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad and the UPA Chairperson Smt Sonia Gandhi.
13