People's Democracy

BASED on its president Sudhir Kumar and secretary Anil Wadhawan, a delegation of the Federation of Medical & Sales Representatives Associations of India (FMRAI) reached Ahmedabad on April 10 morning, with medicines worth more than Rs 50,000. Next day, FMRAI workers from Jalgaon also reached Ahmedabad with additional medicines worth more than Rs 25,000, taking the value of the total collections to more than Rs 75,000.

The FMRAI team also had discussions with CPI(M) state secretary Arun Metha. It decided to accompany state government employees’ leader Sukomal Sen to the relief camps on the same day.

The team found that arrangements had been made to attend to patients at the Shah Alam Camp where more than 14,000 victims were provided shelter. More than 1,200 patients were being attended to daily. These included those injured in the riots and those suffering from other diseases. More than seven pregnant ladies had delivered in the camp itself. More deliveries are expected in near future. Medicines and other specific requirements for them and for the new-born were in short supply.

Hygiene, toilet facilities, etc, were very much lacking, but the situation had slightly improved after movable toilets were received from the UNICEF.

In the Bapunagar Camp, 7,000 to 10,000 inmates were sheltered in four localities. Around 250 to 300 patients were being looked after daily. We found that the arrangements were far short of the patients’ requirements.

A team of government doctors visits the camp for three days a week (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday). Private practitioners also come for two to three hours daily. However, medicines are in short supply and attention to the problems is seriously inadequate.

On April 11, we arranged to supply a portion of medicines to the Shah Alam Camp.

At the Bapu Nagar camp, we set up a medical centre which will be manned for three hours daily by Dr Sayed Mohammed Haneef, BAMS. Initial requirements of medicines have also been provided.

We also visited the office of Behavioral Science Centre, an NGO, at St Xaviers College, and met Mr Prasad and his team.

On that day, the state health minister issued a statement severely criticising the efforts of People’s Initiative to help the riot victims on the plea that they were giving a bad name to the state of Gujarat. Prasad informed us about the threats being mold out for taking peace initiatives and expressed concern that any day their establishment could be attacked by VHP-Bajang Dal members.

While travelling to the office of Behavioral Science Centre, our companion, Ansari, informed us that he had not gone to the readymade garments show-room, where he was employed, for more than 45 days. The same was the case with his relatives and friends. When he made enquiries, he was told that VHP-Bajrang Dal activists were making enquiries at all offices regarding Muslim employees and noting down their scooter numbers, etc.

In the camps, the biggest concern was rehabilitation of the inmates. The survey by government authorities was a farce and clearly indicated the government’s non-seriousness in this regard. Obviously, without Modi’s ouster as chief minister, normalcy would not be possible.