Prime Minister's statements on Gujarat Earthquake
Prime
Minister's statement at Ahmedabad after visiting the earthquake ravaged
areas
January 30, 2001
I came to Gujarat today to express my sympathy and solidarity with my sisters and brothers here in the wake of the devastating earthquake that rocked many parts of the State on January 26. This is one of the worst natural calamities in India and the world. The entire nation shares the grief of the people of Gujarat in this hour of suffering, shock, and loss on a catastrophic scale.
Today I visited Bhuj and did an aerial survey of some of the areas worst affected by the earthquake. I also visited some parts of Ahmedabad that bore the brunt of the quake. I have never seen a natural disaster of such fury.
Mother Nature’s ways are inscrutable. But it is up to man to overcome the stiffest of challenges with determination and a collective spirit. I have come to echo the sentiment of all the one billion plus Indians that we shall overcome the stupendous challenge of relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction in Gujarat, just as we have collectively triumphed against countless odds in the past.
I have constituted an Empowered Group of Ministers to constantly monitor the situation in Gujarat and take speedy steps for proper mobilisation and coordination of relief and rehabilitation activities. The Group will be headed by the Home Minister, Shri L. K. Advani, and include the Ministers of Defence, Finance, Food, Health, Urban Development and Housing, Agriculture, Textile, Telecom, Power and the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission. This would be in addition to the Crisis Management Group under the Cabinet Secretary, which has been meeting on daily basis.
I have asked the Government of Gujarat to set up a separate Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Fund, which mobilise contributions and donations from India and abroad.
I wish to assure the people of Gujarat that neither funds nor any other kind of assistance will be a constraint in accomplishing speediest possible rehabilitation and reconstruction in the State.
The Government of India has approached the World Bank and the Asian Development for a soft loan of $ 1.5 billion (about Rs.6,500 crore). Given the magnitude and complexity of the task of rehabilitation and reconstruction, we have decided to remove restrictions on acceptance of foreign technology and assistance. The Finance resources to meet this calamity, including relaxation of the cap on the State Government’s Ways and Means account with the RBI. In addition to these measures, we will provide additional assistance of Rs. 500 crore from the Calamity Relief Fund. I am also earmarking another Rs. 20 crore from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund to further augment the availability of finances. Governments of other States, too, have come forward with assistance of many kinds.
The people of Kutch and other parts of the Gujarat are renowned for their industriousness. They are also known for their qualities of mutual help in time of adversity. I am confident that the large community of Gujaratis living in other States of India, as also those who are living in different parts of the world, will launch many philanthropic initiatives.
It is heartening that countless voluntary organisations have activated relief and rehabilitation efforts in the State. Many international aid organisations have also rushed relief materials and medical personnel to Gujarat. I thank all of them for their humanitarian gesture. It will our endeavour to effect prefect coordination among all the activities of the Central Government, Gujarat Government, NGOs and ordinary citizens, so that available human, financial and material resources are used in the most effective manner.
Tragic though the earthquake has been, it is also an opportunity for renovation and reconstruction. Every such natural disaster is a challenge for us to show our capability to ensure that life after the calamity is better than life before. Today we take a pledge that Gujarat and India shall rise to the occasion.
January 28, 2001
Dear Brothers & Sisters,
The country woke on the morning of 26th January, 2001 to the worst earthquake Independent India has seen. Thousands of people in the State of Gujarat have lost their lives and property worth crores of rupees has been damaged.
We cannot leave our brothers and sisters to the mercy of fate or the cruelty of vagaries of nature. At this moment, they need our help to tide over the calamity that has fallen upon them, to survive, to rebuild their lives as best they can.
The Union Government would be releasing funds from the existing schemes. However, given the magnitude of the calamity and the large number of people affected, the funds available are inadequate. You can help to meet the shortage by contributing money, no matter how small the amount, to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
Last year it was your assistance that has enabled us to meet the challenge posed by the Super Cyclone that devastated Coastal Orissa. I am confident that this time too, you shall come forward to lend a helping hand.
Together, we can overcome even this adversity.
Jai Hind.
Prime Minister's condolence message for the bereaved families of the Gujarat
I
am deeply pained and distressed to know about the devastating earthquake
that rocked Gujarat this morning, causing the loss of several hundred
lives and extensive damage to private and public property. The earthquake
has also caused destruction in some other States.
I
join all my countrymen in conveying our heartfelt condolences to the
bereaved families and expressing our solidarity with the suffering people
in all the earthquake-hit areas. As has been our proud tradition in all
such times of natural calamity, it is the duty of one and all to come to
the aid of our brethren in Gujarat and other quake-affected areas.
I urge all the concerned agencies of the Central and State Government to begin rescue, relief and rehabilitation operations on a war footing. I also appeal to ordinary citizens, charitable institutions and voluntary organisations to coordinate with government agencies in dealing with this challenge effectively.