Public Hearing: People listening to the woes of one another 

On January 26, 2001 at 8.46, a devastating earthquake resulting into massive loss of life and property, infrastructure, livelihoods, livestock in Kutch District particularly in Bhuj, Bhachau, Anjar and Rapar Taluka.  Infrastructure loss includes extensive damage of water supply, educational institutions, health facilities, electricity, telecommunication, and Roads. According to Govt estimation, a total of 19,904 people died and 1.66 lacs became injured but this is widely considered to be a serious underestimate. A total of 3.55 lacs houses were destroyed and 4.88 lacs were partially damaged across the state. So many NGOs and Govt came forward to rebuild the life of earthquake survivors.

The relief and rehabilitation work was started at war front by International relief agencies, Government and NGOs. In the initial years major focus was given on the rehabilitation of villages and has been done to a large extent. But has not been achieved completely as is the impression among the authorities and the society at large. 

In towns the emphasis was upon the town planning process so that the new developments can be seismically safe, easily accessible for immediate services in the situation of a disaster but that too got much delayed increasing the difficulties of the common man.

To find concrete solutions to the long pending issues and present the true picture of rehabilitation before the wider society a Public hearing was organised by Lok Adhikar Manch, Kutch. Lok Adhikar Manch is Sangathan of marginalized earthquake survivors promoted by Sneh Samudaya. It has been raising the voice for the justice to the effected people that are marginalized due to socio-cultural and economic factors.

Around 1100 people including men and women from the towns and villages of four talukas namely Bhuj, Bhachau, Rapar and Anjar, of Kutch gathered and raised their issues without caring for the heat of this desert region. Some of them broke into tears stating “ame sacha chhiye (we are honest), please give us justice, inspite of having all the proofs why are we being harassed?”  

District collector-Kutch, District Development Officer-Kutch, SDM-Anjar, Taluka Development Officer-Anjar, Mamlatdar- Anjar Area Development Authority and Mamlatdar-Anjar were invited to participate in the Public hearing as jury members and listen to the people and take some decisions on the site or after the programme.  Only the Mamlatdar of Anjar turned up.

Representatives of Lok Adhikar Manch Ms. Baluben, Mr. Ganesh Samra Koli and Mr. Prasad Chacko who has been involved in public movements for many years social were in the panel that conducted the hearing.

People vociferously raised various long-standing issues - housing compensation, death compensation, injury compensation, basic facilities in the adopted villages, poor-quality of construction of houses, incomplete work by the adopting agencies etc. 

Muljibhai of village Jatawada stated that damage assessment survey has been conducted, compensation cheques are ready yet due to the apathy of administration 137 families of Jatawada have not received even a single rupee of housing compensation.

Soniben, a paraplegic of earthquake said that she received only half injury compensation of what she is eligible to as per the package where as she has applied in time, to all the concerned authorities.

“…Badhej rajuaat kari aavyo, matr bhagwan sudhij nathi pohonchiyo ..  (I have discussed my problem every where, only I could not reached to the God)” were the heart moving words of Malsurbhai Velabhai of village Jharu who could not got the second and third installment of housing compensation as the number of his house was changed by the Talati.

The people of four towns Bhuj, Bhachau, Rapar and Anjar put their sufferings before the penal and the other affected people. They raised the issues of rehabilitation of families, whose houses were brought down to widen the roads and building new roads, rehabilitation of tenants residing for many years, difficulty in accessing building permission, housing compensation to the people residing on government land for many years, land regularisation, space for the people involved in small or petty business like hawkers and vendors, who sell their articles by the side of the roads.

The Mamlatdar of Anjar suggested the representatives of Lok Adhikar Manch to open a grievance cell where the cases of affected people can be collected and discussed with him, as he is not able to meet every affected individual. He also informed that further onwards he would keep a complaint box outside his office where people can drop their complaints and once every month he will look into and sort out. Regarding the cases of Anjar he said that some cases need policy decisions that are beyond his authority and rest he will pay attention.

 After the deposition of cases Mr. Prasad Chacko summarised the whole proceedings and invited the people and representatives of Lok Adhikar Manch to give a decision upon the hearing as is was the hearing by the people themselves. People expressed anger on the absence of the authorities and took a collective decision to get at Collector office, Bhuj on 4th May 2004 and ask him to answer the people. In case collector does not give an appropriate answer, Lok Adhikar Manch will start movement till they get justice.