This year the drought
in Gujarat is a nightmarish reminder of the ill-fated 'chhapaniyo
dukaal' (drought of VS 1956) in 1900. It has created an unprecedented
crisis of fodder and drinking water in the region of Saurashtra, Sabarkantha
and Kutch. As many as 4,000 villages and more than 125 towns
are reeling under a severe water crisis. Almost all dams in the region
have dried up and thirsting people trek 10 km for a pot of water which
in many places is not safe to drink.
A summary of the BAPS rainwater
harvesting projects and relief work, where fodder for cattle and Sukhadi
and buttermilk is being distributed to the afflicted people, is as
follows:
1.
Daily Grass, Hay & Fodder Distribution To The Dying Cattle
a) 6,900 Cattle
in Kutch
In Kutch and its desert area, since 19
April 2000, regular distribution of hay and grass with cattle feed
have been undertaken by the BAPS sadhus and volunteers.
Villages helped: (15) - Naredi,
Jarjokh, Vadva (Kaya), Suthari, Meghpar, Panandro (small), Panandro
(big), Navanagar, Dayapar, Ravapar, Hothivandh, Sanosara, Mothala,
Bhimpar, Nandro.
Number of cattle: 6,900 cattle
are daily provided 2 kg dry hay, 6 kg green grass and 1 kg cattle
feed.
Volunteers:
10 Volunteers working full time.
b)
3,835 cattle in Jasdan
In the past one week, BAPS has distributed more than 69,300kgs
grass and hay for needy cattle in Jasdan, Rajkot district. With organised
teams of volunteers and vehicles the fodder is being transported from
greener regions.
Villages helped:(8) Godladhaar,
Phooljhar, Somnath-Pipaliya, Modhuka, Bandhari, Sanaari, Navagaam,
Sanaama.
Volunteers: 15 volunteers working
full time.
c) 3,001 cattle in Baabra, Gondal, Jetpur
Sugarcane is being distributed for cattle in these 3 areas. 54,320
Kilos of sugercane have been distributed in only 3 days.
Villages helped:(8) Laalka, Paatidad,
Gokhalana, Vadod, Mewasa, Haripur, Jetpur, Varadungra. Daily distribution
of 50,000 kilos of sugercane has commenced from yesterday in
these areas.
Volunteers:
15 volunteers working full time.
d) Grass and Hay Distribution in Sabarkantha
In the past one and half months, BAPS has distributed grass and hay
worth over hundreds of thousands of rupees to needy cattle owners
in the Sabarkantha district. With organised teams
of volunteers and vehicles the fodder was transported from the greener
regions of Kheda, Prantij and Chiloda.
Villages helped: (11) Himatpur,
Raheda, Finchod, Khodam, Movatpura, Atharva, Malpur, Nadri, Delwada,
Therasana, Gulabpura.
2. 180 Rainwater Harvesting Projects
Completed In 9 Months
In the Gadhada region of the Bhavnagar District, from August 1999
to April 2000 the following rain harvesting and watershed projects
have been completed in preparation for the predicted drought.
| Village |
Structure |
Number |
Ningala &
Ugamedi
|
Talavs(farm ponds) |
11 |
| Lakhanka |
Check dams
Nala plugging (of concrete)
Gully plugging (of boulders & mud)
Khet talav (farm ponds)
|
6
22
60
22 |
Raliana
Goradka
|
Underground (home) tanks
(concrete 10,000 litre capacity)
|
45
10 |
| Ghogha Samdi |
Check dam |
1 ongoing |
Sakhpar
Tatum
|
Check dam
Check dam
|
2 ongoing
1 ongoing |
Note: In total BAPS has constructed 61 concrete
Check Dams from 1994 to 2000.
3. Excavation Of Silt in Veri Dam, Gondal
The BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Gondal is currently aiding the Gondal
Municipality to excavate the silt in Veri Dam nearby. Since the herculean
project began on 5 April, BAPS volunteers and vehicles have been excavating
1500 tractorloads of silt daily. BAPS has provided 55 tractors
which are carting away rich silt for nearby farmers who need it. A
total of 100 tractors will be working onsite on a war footing till
the arrival of the monsoon.
Summary : Since 5 April, 45,119
tractorloads of silt has been excavated costing over Rs.2.2
million donated by BAPS. Of the 29 ft. of silt in the dam,
over 6 ft. has been excavated and for the next month daily excavation
work which now costs Rs. 45,000 per day by 55 tractors is likely to
increase to 100 tractors. BAPS contribution will exceed approx. Rs.3
to 3.5 million for the next month, totalling approx. Rs. 4 to 4.5
million worth of donations and services for the excavation project.
4. Project For Sukhadi (Sweet Energy Food)
Distribution Undertaken
a)
Dist. Kutch
BAPS is daily distributing 2.48 tons of sukhadi to 12,400
affected people in 101 villages of Kutch. In one month, a total
of 74.4 tons of pre-packed sukhadi worth over Rs.1,636,800
will be distributed to the needy.
Volunteers: 90 are working in the
region. The work will continue till the arrival of monsoon.
|
Taluko
|
Villages
|
Persons
|
Sukhadi
Kg./Month
|
Amount
Rs.
|
|
Abadaasa
|
48
|
6,000
|
36,000
|
792,000
|
|
Nakhatrana
|
26
|
2,900
|
17,400
|
382,000
|
|
Lakhpat
|
27
|
3,500
|
21,000
|
462,000
|
|
Total
|
101
|
12,400
|
74,400
|
1,636,800
|
b)
Dist. Jamnagar
BAPS is daily
distributing 0.98 tons of sukhadi to 4,711
affected people in 17 villages of the Jodia taluko in Jamnagar.
In one month, a total of 28.2 tons of pre-packed sukhadi worth
over Rs. 621,000 will be distributed to the needy.
Villages of Jodia
taluko:(17)
Kunak, Jivapar (Amran), Jodia, Unt Bet Sampar, Jam-Dudhai., Keshiya,
Limbuda, Amran, Dhulkot, Koyli, Balambha, Fatsar, Kerali, Bodka, Rasnal,
Badanpar.
Volunteers: 10 are working full-time
in the region. The work will continue till the arrival of monsoon.
c) Dist.
Amreli
BAPS is daily distributing 566 Kg of sukhadi to 2,830
affected people in 18 villages of Amreli and Dhari taluko.
In one month, a total of 16.9 tons of pre-packed sukhadi worth
over Rs.373,560 will be distributed to the needy.
Volunteers:
10 are working full-time in the region.The work will continue
till the arrival of monsoon.
d)
Dist. Bhavnagar
BAPS is daily distributing 420 Kg of sukhadi to 2,100
affected people in 10 villages of Gadhada taluko in Bhavnagar
district. In one month, a total of 12.6 tons of pre-packed
sukhadi worth over Rs.277,200 will be distributed to the needy.
Volunteers:
20 are working full-time in the region. The work will continue
till the arrival of monsoon.
e)
Dist. Sabarkantha
BAPS is daily distributing 2.7 tons of sukhadi to 13,500
affected people in 52 villages of Khedbrahma taluko in Sabarkantha
district. In one month, a total of 81 tons of pre-packed sukhadi
worth over Rs.1.78 million will be distributed to the needy.
Volunteers : 140 are working full-time
in the region. The work will continue till the arrival of monsoon.
f) Dist. Dahod
BAPS is daily distributing 1.02 tons of sukhadi to 5,100
affected people in 11 villages of Dahod taluko. In one month,
a total of 30.6 tons of pre-packed sukhadi worth over Rs.
673,000 will be distributed to the needy.
Volunteers: 20 are working full-time in the region. The
work will continue till the arrival of monsoon.
Summary
of Sukhadi Distribution
| Taluko |
Villages |
Persons |
Daily
Sukhadi
Kg.
|
Monthly
Sukhadi Kg.
|
Amount
Rs. |
| Kutch |
101
|
12,400
|
2480
|
74,400
|
1,636,800
|
| Jamnagar |
17
|
4,711
|
942
|
28,266
|
621,852
|
| Amreli |
18
|
2,830
|
566
|
16,980
|
373,560
|
| Bhavnagar |
10
|
2,100
|
420
|
12,600
|
277,200
|
| Sabarkantha |
52
|
13,500
|
2700
|
81,000
|
1,782,000
|
| Dahod |
11
|
5,100
|
1020
|
30,600
|
673,200
|
| Total |
209
|
40,641
|
8128
|
243,846
|
5,364,612
|
5. Future
Projects Will Include Work In Dhandhuka Region
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