Post
Conflict Reconstruction : One Month After
Baluben,
is a food vendor. She used to vend eatables in the walled city
area. "I recently borrowed from SEWA Bank, to buy refrigerator.
I had planned to sell cold drinks during summer. Look what has
happened to my refrigerator, my vending cart and my home. Everything
was gutted. I will have to rebuild from scratch, both my home
and my means of livelihoods.
Fatima
is a garment stitcher. She along with her two daughters used to
stitch skirts for the trader. She has lost all the three machines
and her home. Taking refuge in the camp, Fatima says "By
Gods’ sake, we have survived. Will work hard and rebuild
our livelihoods."
Baluben
and Fatima are not alone, about 40,000 self employed women workers
and their families have been affected, by the riots.
Those
who have not lost their homes or tools, are also hit hard. Most
of the labour areas in the city are experiencing riots and have
been under curfew for more than 20 days now.
Apart
from the camp work SEWA is also working with the women workers
who have been affected by the riots. They do not have any source
of income at all. For almost past one month these self-employed
workers and their families have no work, income & therefore
are finding it difficult to have even one meal a day. Construction
workers cannot go to work since they reside in curfew bound areas.
Vendors cannot carry on vending activities, since the areas are
under curfew. The home based workers (Bidi workers, Incense stick
rollers, garment workers) have no work as the markets are all
closed.
Therefore
it was felt that the members who are not having any source of
income and they are not residing in camps should also be given
some help. Basic food supplies should be given to them so that
they too can survive. Wheat was the first option available to
us, supplied by the United Nations World Food Program. And therefore,
wheat was distributed to our members as immediate assistance to
them.
It
is now over a month. These victims and their families also now
find it difficult to borrow. The moneylenders also refuse to lend.
Community
led Distribution System :
Certain
criteria’s for distribution were decided among the leaders
and organizers of SEWA, as to who should be given the priority
in distributing the wheat. Criteria’s for the same are :
- Members whose
houses have been totally damaged.
- Members who
reside in the curfew areas, and who because of it could not
go out of their locality to by or earn any food etc.
- Members whose
houses are totally damaged and they are helpless right now.
It
was decided by the organizers and leaders that each member should
get 7 kilograms of wheat, so that a family of 5 can utilize it
for 4 days maximum (which may vary). Thus a total of 180 metric
tons of wheat could be distributed to 25,714 members. Priority
wise first the most affected members were taken in to consideration.
The
leaders from different localities & chawls first prepare a
list of the members and submit it in SEWA, after verification,
she is given the total quantity of wheat accordingly to distribute
in her locality and later submit the account of it in SEWA.
The
whole distribution is taken up and managed by SEWA leaders, with
apt guidance from the accounts department – for maintenance
of stock etc and other senior organizers of SEWA.
A
separate monitoring team again comprising of Leaders cross check
the distribution. So far, the available 180 metric tons of wheat
has been distributed to 25,714 families.
SEWA’s
Response :
The
work in the five relief camps continues.
- Child Care
Centres :
About
80 to 200 children are taken care at five child care centres,
one in each camp. The children express their feelings by drawings
and singing.
Four
year old Imtiyaz, on his first day at the child care centre
drew a sword and a gun. Now he draws children playing and celebrating
Flag hoisting ceremony.
Six
year old Salman drew burning houses in the middle of a mosque
and a house. Today he draws birds and flowers.
The
school going children have been given textbooks and take daily
lessons for three hours. In one camp, the children have been
temporarily enrolled in the nearby Municipal School.
SEWA
collaborated with the Integrated Child Development Scheme of
the Government of Gujarat. The child care centres in these five
camps are recognised by the Government of Gujarat. The food
supply for the children is provided by the ICDS. SEWA, through
its catering cooperative – "Trupti" prepares
food such as "Sukdi" (mixture of Indiamix flour, jaggary
and ghee) Ladoos on alternate days and distributes to the children.
-
Health
Care :
The
health cooperative and the health unit of SEWA, regularly provides
health care services. The health unit coordinates with the Municipal
Corporation and the Government of Gujarat health services. Accordingly
the Mobile Health Vans, conduct routine check-ups at all the
camps and also provides medicines. In case referral services,
the Health Cooperative arranges for that.
Once
every week a Gynaecologist, a Paediatrician, an Opthalmologist
also conducts check-ups.
Patients
on longer term treatments of T.B. or Thalessemia are also referred
to their respective hospitals and treatment continued.
Sr.
No. |
Camp |
No.
of Patients |
1. |
Aman
Chowk, Bapunagar |
2160 |
2. |
Anand
Flat, Bapunagar |
1541 |
3. |
Kisan
Society, Danilimda |
942 |
4. |
Bakarshah’s
Roza, Saraspur |
3685 |
5. |
Bombay
Housing, Saraspur |
753 |
|
Total |
|
-
Hygiene
and Sanitation :
Team
of SEWA organisors at the camp, on a daily basis, involve the
camp residents and local committees, in cleaning the camp sites,
kitchen area. Also guide the committee on proper disposal of
garbage and left over food. Proper cleaning and mobile and temporary
toilets.
Spraying
of disinfectant on a daily basis at the garbage dumping and
serveage disposal sites.
-
Livelihood
Security :
The
livelihood security work continues. The demand for work is increasing,
with more and more women wanting to join. Currently 1,115 women
are getting regular work and income from different economic
activities :
-
Beedi
rolling
-
Incense
stick making
-
Garment
stitching
-
Paper
bag making
S.N. |
Name
of Activity |
No.
of women |
1. |
Beedi
rolling |
350 |
2. |
Incense
stick making |
700 |
3. |
Garment
stitching |
53 |
4. |
Paper
bag making |
85 |
|
Total |
|
The
sewing machines 25 each have been installed at the camps.
The
assessment on the damage to means of livelihoods and needs for
rebuilding livelihoods, has been completed by the team of students
from the Indian Institute of Management. SEWA is preparing its
long term Post Conflict Reconstruction programme, based on this
plan.
- Informal
Education :
The
literacy team from SEWA Academy conducts classes for young boys
and girls and also adults. Two hour classes are conducted daily.
There are different timings for different age groups.
The
young girls at the camps, in the age group of 7 to 14 have started
learning Gujarati. The preschool lessons on introducing alphabets
and numbers are being conducted. About 120 girls attend literacy
classes in 3 camps.
- Housing Reconstruction
:
The
housing damage assessment and needs assessment for reconstruction
of total 15,250 houses has been completed, under the guidance
and inputs from KSADPS. The detailed report with costs, plans
and sketches and cost estimates for reconstruction is prepared.
SEWA
is linking up with the Government of Gujarat, to design the
housing compensation package, using the assessment.
Rural
Response :
In
Kheda district, about 7500 members from 70 villages have been
affected. They are taking refuge in camps in Anand city.
Based
on SEWA’s general approach, child care centers and health
care centers have been opened in all the seven camps. On an
average 563 children attend the centers.
Sr.
No. |
Name
of village |
No.
of children |
1. |
Kohinur |
125 |
2. |
Ismilenagar |
200 |
3. |
Naya
Vatan |
113 |
4. |
Green
Park |
125 |
|
Total |
|
The
detailed village assessment will commence now, as till 4th
March, Anand city and the villages were under curfew, and therefore
the office had to remain closed.
Next
Steps :
It
has now been almost a month, that the families have taken refuge
in camps. Their work also has come to a standstill. Life is completely
disrupted. For families outside the camp, also life is at a complete
standstill. There is no work and income for daily wage earners.
The areas are under curfew Basic daily necessities are not available.
Children’s education also suffers. Added to this is the summer
heat, that leads to infections and illness. The families are wanting
to go back to their houses – whether destroyed or damage.
They are eager to work hard and rebuild their homes.
However,
there is fear. There is a feeling of insecurity. The members want
support from SEWA.
"Shantipath"
– post conflict resettlement. SEWA has taken the courage
to resettle its members and their households, by having detailed
consultations with the families, with the neighbors.
Taking
gradual steps of first visiting the chawls and houses. Spending
time with the neighbors. Gradually increasing the stay. Every
step has to be careful and cautions.
At
the same time, SEWA will negotiate with the Government of Gujarat
for security and protection. To compensate the families as early
as possible to facilitate the process of resettlement.
The
challenge ahead is difficult. But the members have trust and the
organisors are confident. Together we shall overcome!
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