MINUTES OF MEETING HELD TO DISCUSS SUPPORTING EARTHQUAKE RELIEF WORK IN KUTCH Date: January 29, 2001 Venue: Nirantar, B 64 Sarvodya Enclave, Second Floor, New Delhi 110017 People who attended: Peace (Ajit, Sanjay); Nabina (Tehelka); Ankur (Jaya, Arun); Marg (Neha); National Foundation for India (Sudipta); Partner for Law and Development (Kalplata); Seema Misra; Jagori ( Kalyani, Seema, Abha); Anuj, Aditi (Sama); Vijaya (ICRW); Anuradha (Rahi); Saloni (Haq); Esther (Tarshi); Ghazala Khan (Ekatra); Kiran Sharma (Lawyers Collective); Priya (Human Rights Law Network); Ravi (Centre for Education and Communication); Priti (Kali), Vijay Pratap (Lokayan); Dipta, Renuka, Malini, Purnima (Nirantar) The meeting began with different people sharing information they had. Nirantar has been in touch with a network (Abhiyan) of Kutch based organizations. Abhiyan came together to do relief work during the cyclone that hit Kutch 2 years ago. They have now been approached by the district administration to do relief work for the earthquake. Abhiyan has sent a list of items that they urgently require which was distributed at the meeting. Of the items mentioned the most urgently required items are tents, tarpaulin, generator sets and medicines. They had also sent the contact of organizations in Gujarat where donations could be sent. Others present also shared information that they had. Seema mentioned that Charities Aid Foundation had put out an ad for blanket collection and that the principal of Magic Years School is also trying to coordinated sending things these. Gandhi Peace Foundation was also involved in collecting material. Soma shared that she was going to a meeting at Sardar Patel School where she would share the information. Sama shared that Medico-friends circle had also sent an appeal for medicine collection. It was felt that rather than dissipate efforts for the initial push it would be better to send the material to one place and inform Medico friends circle about Abhiyan and vice-versa. We could start helping in putting all these groups in touch with each other. It was also felt that the Delhi groups should concentrate on sending material that was most urgently required - tarpaulin, ropes, bamboo's etc. which are in short supply in Gujarat. In order to purchase this material it was decided that donations would have to be gathered in Delhi as well. Four people have volunteered to find out about the purchase of tarpaulin (rates etc.) - Seema Misra, Soma Parthasarthy, Viji and Kalyani. Donations can be sent to Sadbhavana Trust which has an Income tax exemption. Receipts for cash and cheque donations will be provided by Sadbhavana Trust. It was decided that generator sets could not be purchased at present, as they were too expensive. With regard to medicine collection, going by earlier experiences it was felt that the most effective way would be to approach hospitals and doctors who get free medicines. It was also suggested that medicine companies like Ranbaxy should be contacted for donations. Priya (HRLN) and Sama have volunteered to coordinate medicine collection. There was some discussion on transport. People shared information about various companies that had offered to transport material free. For example, Jet Airways, a railway, some Truck companies. Sanjay from Peace has volunteered to gather all the information. The group should aim at sending the first consignment on Friday. Other material will also be collected (warm clothes, blankets, dry rations etc). The collection point for this is Ankur. There is a possibility of another collection point in Saket (through Madhavan) which Sanjay (Peace) is trying to follow-up. CII and other industrial bodies are to be contacted for donations. Jaya Srivastava has agreed to follow-up. A coordination committee has been set up which will coordinate relief work for the next 2 weeks. The members of the committee are Nirantar (Dipta); Ankur (Jaya, Arun); Jagori (Kalyani) and Peace (Ajit and Sanjay) SUMMARY OF THE DECISIONS TAKEN A coordination committee has been set up which will coordinated relief work for the next 2 weeks. The members of the committee are Nirantar (Dipta); Ankur (Jaya, Arun); Jagori (Kalyani) and Peace (Ajit and Sanjay). The collection point for all material is ANKUR (7/10 Sarvpriya Vihar). Sorting of material will be done collectively on Thursday February 1 after 12 Noon. The following individuals/organizations have volunteered - (Kalplata, Seema, Jagori, CEC, Marg, Peace, Ankur, Viji, Nirantar, Haq, Ekatra) All cheque donations will be made to Sadbhavana Trust. Money collection should be carried out on a war footing. The coordination committee should be informed of the amount collected by Wednesday evening or Thursday Morning. Coordination of medicine collection - Sama, Priya Transport coordination (Sanjay, Peace). Purchase of Tarpaulin (Seema, Soma, Kalyani, Viji) CII, FICCI and other industrial bodies are to be contacted for donations. (Jaya Srivastava). The Secretariat will be at Nirantar The group will meet again on Monday 6, February 2001.