Just as he visited a man-made tragedy yesterday, so President APJ Abdul Kalam visited a natural one today: following the straight and narrow marked out for him to inspect earthquake rehabilitation in Kutch. The few words he did speak were of praise for the relief work done here. Had he spent some more time in Hiten Dholakia Vidyalaya, whose foundation stone he’d laid in June 2001, he might have altered his opinion. Till the end of last week, when he hadn’t announced his Bhuj visit, the rooms constructed by the state government had no roofs and the plaster was peeling off the walls. Today, new tin roofs were in place, the walls given a fresh coat of paint. The school — next to Deendayal Nagar, a temporary colony constructed by Technology Information Forecasting and Assessment Council, of which Kalam was the chairman — was meant for children of the colony and also from nearby areas. When Kalam had inaugurated the school last year, it had only two teachers and an honorary teacher. Even today, with about 400 children, there are only four teachers and a couple of honorary teachers. The President’s itinerary included only those areas where the administration’s and people’s record on reconstruction is good. He visited Deendayal Nagar, Dagala in Bhachau taluka and Sukhpar in Bhuj taluka. Winding up his visit, he said: ‘‘I am taking the indomitable Kutchhi spirit with me.’’ At Deendayal Nagar, where he spoke for less than two minutes, and without sitting down, Dindayal Nagar temporary shelters have been built for 400 earthquake victims from TIFAC funds. It was good, he said, that rehabilitation work was on and ‘‘lots of buildings were coming up”. Apparently, his observation was based on information provided by the state government. For, the fact is that the town planning of old Bhuj is incomplete and no permission for any construction is being given — whatever construction is taking place is illegal. Though Independence Day is two days away, the Tricolour was everywhere, especially in the hands of the children who lined the route. The President appeared relaxed and often gave his securitmen nightmares by rushing to meet people wherever he could. He spoke in English while Industries Minister Suresh Mehta played translator. In Sukhpar, he told the gathering that ‘‘we need to increase our GDP from 5 to 10 per cent’’. Agriculture; food processing; health; education and infrastructure development for self-sufficiency was the five-fold path he suggested for the country to become developed and eliminate poverty.
