Remember the Kutch cyclone? The victims do

Kandla Port Trust had donated land and the state had promised to get pucca houses built by the state Rural Housing Board. The assurance came in a letter written by P.K. Laheri, then principal secretary to CM, to Detha following a sit-in by the victims near the Assembly in August 2001.

‘‘The Government decided that pucca houses for cyclone victims will be constructed by the Rural Housing Board under Government’s Sardar Housing Scheme. The beneficiary will have to contribute Rs 2,500 for it. Initially, 1,000 houses will be built in the first stage,’’ states the letter dated August 30, 2001. The government also set up a committee to implement the decision.

‘‘Nothing has been done about this decision so far. The committee has not even met once, leave aside implementing the government’s decision. I met the caretaker Chief Minister about one-and-half month ago and showed him the letter. He promised to look into it, but nothing happened. So, we are fasting for our rights now,’’ says Detha, who is also the Opposition leader in Gandhidham municipality.

In the last four days, no official has visited them. ‘‘I am surprised by the Government’s insensitivity,’’ says Detha, alleging that the Government is ignoring the victims as most of them are Harijans who are not BJP supporters.

The victims had visited the local mamlatdar’s office many times to deposit their share of Rs 2,500, but he refused to accept it, saying he had not received any order from the government, Detha alleged. ‘‘Under the government’s rehabilitation plan, every victim had to contribute one-third of the cost of the house, which was Rs 17,000. The rest was to be borne by the Government and NGOs — who refused to come forward — and the Government decided to bear their share,’’ says Detha.

After several agitations, the Government agreed to build the houses provided the victims paid Rs 2,500 each. But the scheme has remained on paper.