MS Swaminathan for using Kutch model in quake-hit Nepal

NEW DELHI: As different governmental and non-governmental agencies prepare to move from rescue to rehabilitation phase in quake-struck Nepal, the father of India's green revolution M S Swaminathan on Tuesday called for adopting the Kutch model to mitigate the suffering of those affected in both countries.

Referring to "habitation-cum-rehabilitation programme" of Kutch in Gujarat that was ravaged by a powerful earthquake in 2001, Swaminathan said the model involved putting up low cost greenhouse-like structures which can immediately provide shelter to the homeless and later can be used to undertake high-value seed production.

"Relief operations are in full swing in the country devastated by the earthquake. Soon we need to launch rehabilitation", he tweeted, adding "We need to convert this calamity into an opportunity for improving the income of the poor through market-driven enterprises".

Calling for launching "Beyond the Earthquake rehabilitation movement", the eminent agriculture scientists said, "Architects are already considering how to make buildings safe under such conditions. There is considerable international experience in this area including our experience following the Kutch earthquake of 2001."

The earthquake that hit Kutch district of Gujarat on January 26, 2001 resulted in deaths of around 20,000 people and destroyed over 4 lakh homes. It took years for government and other agencies to rehabilitate the affected people in the state.

Referring to the Kutch incident, Swaminathan elaborated on his suggestion by issuing a detailed statement. The "habitation-cum-rehabilitation programme" - one among many other rehabilitation schemes implemented in Gujarat - was designed and implemented by him for providing "roof to the roofless in the short term, and assured agro-based income in the long term."

This programme was supported financially by the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and implemented with the help of the Gujarat Agriculture University.

Sharing the experience of the programme that had successfully rehabilitated thousands of families in Gujarat, Swaminathan said, "Nepal is ideal for the production of disease-free seeds of temperate vegetables and a wide variety of ornamental plants. Thus, providing a home to live and take to an economic occupation can become concurrent blessings".

He said, "I hope a consortium of donors including India will help to organize such a habitation-cum-rehabilitation programme thereby helping this beautiful country to convert killing fields into smiling gardens".

Though the magnitude of the Kutch earthquake was slightly lower than the one that had hit Nepal and northern parts of India, the tremors had in Gujarat affected more number of people due to higher population intensity of the area near its epicenter.