Latur Earthquake
Rehabilitation of Rebe Chincholi
Years have quickly gone by since that fateful dawn; when a massive earthquake struck Latur; which razed to ground many villages; devastating thousands of families and rendering thousands homeless.
Rebe Chincholi in Latur district, a village of about 650 people; was one of the worst affected. All the houses in this village were reduced to rubble by the earthquake and more than 100 people were killed. Immediately aid started flowing in from all directions to Latur; people from all sections of society came in with basic essentials like food, clothes, utensils, material for shelter; unfortunately the very people who brought all this relief, started crowding the affected sites and army’s help had to be taken to clear these people.
Government agencies set up temporary shelters on an urgent footing, several individuals and NGO’s pitched in, supply of power and water was organized; but all these turned out to be temporary measures. The question of permanent rehabilitation remained, it was extensive, complicated, time-consuming and expensive. This was a big challenge, not only for the Government but for the entire society.
RSS Jankalyan Samiti
The network of RSS through its swamyamsevaks is spread all over the country. Their natural instinct is to rush help and manpower to places were ever such natural calamities occur; thus help started streaming from all parts of the country, even swamyamsevaks who are abroad too extended a helping hand.
The Jankalyan Samiti workers met Chief Minister, Shri Sharad Pawar on 13th October 1993 and conveyed to him the willingness of the Samiti to take up the work of building houses. A blue print prepared by the Samiti, which explained to him. A meeting with the Chief Secretary was held at Mantralaya after a couple of days and the village Rebe Chincholi was entrusted to the Jankalyan Samiti for rehabilitation.
Jankalyan Samiti, not only undertook the total responsibility of restructuring the Rebe Chincholi village with the required types of houses, a primary school and the basic amenities, but also erected a Samaj Kalyan Mandir and Grampanchayat office on their own.
Men behind the scene
The Jankalyan Samiti took possession of the plot for houses on 1st January 1993. Since then a number of Swamyamsevaks have worked untiringly to complete the project. The project in charge Shri Appa Oendharkat lead the team. At the age of 71, his enthusiasm and agility were enviable. He hails from Karad and was Karad’s Deputy Mayor. He has also held many other senior administrative posts.
Shri Shantaram Kadam from Satara was there for more than a year and looked after stores and purchase.
Shri Padmakar Nashikkar who looked after Accounts, Shri Bhujang Nagesh Guttikar took charge of power supply, Shri Anant Nilangekar and quite a few others made contribution to the success of the Rebe Chincholi rehabilitation project. Mention should also be made of Shri Prabhakar Dhakras and many other young technicians who contributed with their mite.
Shri Vasantrao Tambe and Shri Anil Gachke offered expert advice on pre-cast technology. Shri Vasant Narayan Tambe a Civil Engineer and Karyawah of Mumbai Mahanagar.
Villager’s contribution
Before starting the Project, samiti had taken some of villagers to Gujarat to show them the specimens of the houses built there, with the new pre-cast technique. This resulted in a great deal of confidence and credibility about the project among villagers. Since then, their cooperation was ever increasing and it ended in a culmination on the day of Pran Pratishtha of the statue of Shri Shivaji Maharaja performed on the occasion of Shiv Rajyabhishek Din (Shivaji Maharaj’s Coronation Anniversary). The entire village with the children and women participated with great enthusiasm in this programme.
In a memorable and heart-warming ceremony blessed by light rain showers, the houses were handed to the villagers by RSS Sar-Sanghachalak of that time Shri Rajjubhaiyaji alias Prof. Rajendra Singh on 28th October 1994.
After completing the first phase of rehabilitation i.e. physical rehabilitation; Jankalyan Samiti took on the next the more important task of psychological rehabilitation, stabilizing and strengthening the social life in this area. It planned to do this by, building Bharat Mata Mandirs in twenty villages. Distributing books to children and setting up libraries. Building sanskar kendra’s. Providing health services by setting up gymnasiums. The Bharat Mata Mandirs would be used to run various training programs for villagers and running many other social activities. A residential school for 350 students was started at Latur as a temporary measure and soon converted to a permanent School. Hospitals were planned at Nadi Hatarga, Mangrul and Rebe Chincholi. Tow mobile hospitals have already been put in operation for rendering house-to house medical and health service.
It was a long way to go, but Jankalyan Samiti was determined to reach its goal and make it happen against all odds. The mission was called complete; when all the proposed work were complete and an infrastructure created to run and maintain them. Rehabilitation of Rebe Chincholi was a great achievement in itself. The successful completion of the project speaks for the dedication of those who toiled for an idea.