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CARE TODAY: REBUILDING
GUJARAT
New Realities
Rebuilding
a ravaged state begins with touching individual hearts. CARE TODAY, in
a symbolic gesture, recently presented an undaunted mother with seed money
to begin afresh. Ratiben Govindbhai lost her husband and her house in
the earthquake but she has soldiered on bravely to create a life for her
five children. The society has plans for more extensive reconstruction
work in the state, both at the individual and the community levels. Meanwhile,
a brave soldier adopted under the Lest We Forget programme accepts the
realities of civilian life.
RATIBEN GOVINDBHAI
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| Ratiben is one of the widows being supported by
CARE TODAY |
The Rs 5,000 given to Ratiben Govindbhai, 35,
As an initial grant will help her build a temporary shelter. She has also
been assured of a minimum monthly income so that she does not need to
worry about food for herself and the children. The assistance supplements
the official compensation due to her. This takes forward CARE TODAY's
rehabilitation programme in Gujarat that began in the immediate aftermath
of the earthquake with the sponsorship of a medical team from St John's
Hospital, Bangalore. As with Ratiben, we are in the process of identifying
19 others who have been so badly affected by the quake that they require
more than the official relief packages to make a new beginning. CARE TODAY
will give them an initial grant and then ensure they receive a long-term
minimum monthly sum.
In partnership with the Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan,
CARE TODAY will reconstruct 450 houses in Kutch. The project, which will
cost Rs 2.16 crore, will begin after the monsoons. The society has also
set aside about Rs 1 crore to finance the building of 200 more houses
and discussions are currently on for undertaking this scheme in partnership
with the Kutch Navnirman Abhiyan
We are also supporting the construction of a
library at a school in Aadariyana and have released Rs 5 lakh for the
purpose. The Navsarjan Trust has approached us for assistance in building
community infrastructure in Dalit hamlets in 16 villages in Patan, Surendranagar
and Ahmedabad districts at a cost of approximately Rs 5 lakh.
DUOZOLIE ANGAMI
1 Naga Regiment
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| Angami at the plot on which he will build a house |
Duozolie Angami,
now 23, will never forget May 25, 1999. He battled the Pakistanis furiously
until a shell rendered him unconscious. Two weeks later he had to face
the bitter truth: both his hands had to be amputated. After discharge
from the army last year, the sports-loving soldier returned to his village,
Zhadima, near Kohima in Nagaland. "Life has to go on. I am focusing
on my future," he says. On August 14, 2000, Angami joined ONGC as
junior attendant at the oil company 's eastern regional headquarters at
Nazira in eastern Assam. "This is a new challenge and I'll face it,"
he says with characteristic optimism.
Today, the former sepoy slips a wrist band on
his right hand, fixes a spoon to it and eats his meals. He also cycles
to office. His cousin Thenuochalie Angami has been looking after him untiringly
ever since he arrived at Nazira and set up home. Duozolie will soon get
married to his childhood sweetheart. "I need company and she is it,"
he says, too bashful to mention her name. That will involve greater responsibilities.
With CARE TODAY's support, Angami is planning to build a house on a plot
of land that the Government of Nagaland has granted him. He has already
received Rs 1.24 lakh from CARE TODAY. He will be given Rs 2 lakh more
as construction progresses. "I am grateful to CARE TODAY for the
help," he says. He deserves it.
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