Disaster Response - Strategy

BJS has established country-wide network of trained volunteers who have committed their availability for disaster response at any location with a very short notice. BJS makes sure to send the first batch of senior most volunteers at disaster site at the earliest to assess the situation. This team proposes and plans the prioritized actions to involve next batches with the required material for immediate as well as long term needs. BJS coordinates with local government agencies and volunteers for immediate relief support. BJS sets up support camps for providing ready meals on a daily basis to all affected population as well as the entire working task force active at the disaster site.

BJS mobilizes funding efforts by strategically arranging site visits for decision makers and also establishes connection with network of resourceful well wishers. By having a transparent and trustworthy approach with donors' contribution, BJS consolidates resources and coordinates with other NGOs and government authorities to contribute for re-building of facilities like educational and health centers with palletized and prefabricated material. BJS deploys a very effective strategy of using pre-fabricated material for semi-permanent structure that can be reused at other disasters sites in future once the permanent structures are built.

BJS as a long term strategy has established Wagholi Educational Rehabilitation Center, WERC near Pune to take care of rehabilitation of children for educational purpose and their complete requirements like food, accommodation, school education, holistic development and physical & mental health.

Rescue, relief and rehabilitation – Latur Earthquake, 1993

30,000 victims provided food twice a day for 15 days

Main relief camp set up within first few hours of earthquake.

800 volunteers reached the disaster site within a few hours of the tragedy.

200 utensil kits, 50000 sweaters, 10000 blankets, 4000 saris distributed with bed-sheets, clothes, mats, stoves, candles, containers etc.

1200 disaster affected children from 29 villages identified for educational rehabilitation, necessary permission obtained for starting Primary, Middle Schools and a Junior College

In Oct 93, identified children shifted to Pimpri – arrangement for 1200 children made in 120 rooms of Atmaram complex, Pimpri School set up in Pimpri started on Oct 26 and classes started within two days.

As a permanent solution Education & Rehabilitation Centre set up on 10 acres land at Wagholi with a large 280000 sqft educational complex with the assistance of World Bank and State Govt, with a state-of-the art building and all facilities like hostel, labs, library, classrooms etc., and capacity to accommodate 1000 students

WERC inaugurated on 29 Nov 1998 and all the children shifted there, with free education up to graduation, lodging, boarding, medical facilities, holistic development opportunities as well as disaster management training facility.

Rescue, Relief and Rehabilitation – Jabalpur Earthquake, 1997

Earthquake struck Jabalpur on 22 May, 1997 resulting in loss of 29 human lives and extensive damages

Apart from rescue and relief operations carried out by BJS volunteers, 44 students in 5th to 10thstandards were identified and selected and brought over to Pune and then to WERC

Rescue, Relief and Rehabilitation – Gujarat Earthquake, 2001

Relief centres set up at various places - major centres at Bhachau and Samkhiyali

Arrangements for cooked food, clothes and medicines for 30,000 people daily

Besides rescue & relief operations, standout initiative was constructing schools on a war footing

First school came up at Samkhiyali out of the ruins after just 12 days with 500 students back in class on the 13th day of disaster.

Construction was made in a way that it lasts for minimum 20 years with pre-frabricated material

469 villages in Kuchchh and Rajkot, Jamnagar and Surendranagar districts were surveyed and 275 villages identified to start school reconstruction work

Plans and designs drawn up for cyclone and earthquake proof construction as suggested by World Bank team by engaging a team of experts.

Fund raising campaign conducted within the Jain community, Media and Political Parties generating huge response.

Team of 44 experts including civil engineers, masons, carpenters, electricians and other skilled personnel mobilized and sent along with construction personnel from Pune, Mumbai and Jalgaon

In a record time of 90 days, BJS constructed 368 schools and handed over to Gujarat govt on 3rd June, 2001.

The entire project was governed by BJS where the national and international donors’ funds were routed for this purpose wherever applicable.

Rescue, Relief and Rehabilitation – Tsunami 2004 – Tamil Nadu

6 relief camps set up at Sirkali, Chidambaram, Karaikal, Kumbhakonam, Cuddalore and Pondicheri

200 temporary shelters constructed at Sirkali, and more than 20000 people fed three time a day at 17 centres

Rescue and relief in 6 nearby villages each at Chidamabaram, Karaikal, Kumbakonam, and 19 villages around Cuddalore

Post Tsunami Education and Health Rehabilitation – Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Objective was to reconstruct fully damaged schools in Andaman & Nicobar islands, equip the schools and provide support for improvement in quality education additionally taking care of reconstructing health care facilities.

Steps followed were -

A. Conducting in-depth survey and preparation of action plan

B. Receiving all necessary permissions after detailed presentations of the proposal

C. Establishment of infrastructure and co-ordination centre at Port Blair

D. Appointment of qualified architects for preparation of drawings in conformity with IS 1983 standard for seismic zones.

E. Signing of MOU with A&N administration for reconstruction of schools, health centres and sub-centres.

F. Identifying and engaging qualified contractors with the right credentials.

G. Completing construction and handing over of 11 schools, 30 primary health centres and 4 primary health sub-centres to administration within a year.

H. The entire project was governed by BJS where the national and international donors’ funds were routed for this purpose wherever applicable.

I. For quality improvement of schools, 402 school were covered with an MoU with A&N and BJS to roll out BJS EDUQIP programs.

Rescue, Relief and Rehabilitation – Kashmir Earthquake, 2005

Singular achievement of BJS was in setting up shelters post- earth quake by recycling buildings constructed in Gujarat in 2001.

This was done on the request by newly-constituted NDMA in acknowledgement of BJS work and speed for constructing shelters on war footing – by signing the first ever MoU by NDMA.

It was a massive relocation exercise involving feasibility studies, convincing and associating all stake- holders viz J&K administration, NDMA, getting all clearances and permissions, logistics management

870 shelters got constructed in Tangdhar, Teetwal and Dringla regions admeasuring 3,34,000sqft area and sheltering 15000 people within a time span of 50 days.

Educational rehabilitation of 500 disaster affected / orphaned boys of J&K at WERC Pune, for six months, was also the highpoint of the rehabilitation initiative.

Maharashtra Draught Relief initiative 2013

Beed district of Maharashtra was one of the districts that suffered from acute draught in the year 2013.

BJS took the unique initiative of de-silting 115 village water bodies (ponds, tanks) within 1 month. More than 90 JCBs / Poclains were mobilized and 2000 to 2500 truckloads of silt was removed every day.

A total of 2000000 cu mtr of silt got removed, and carried away by villagers to be deposited and spread over agricultural lands, which enhanced the fertility and raised agricultural output.

The water storage capacity of these water reservoirs got enhanced by 20 lakh litres.

Besides the above, BJS has successfully carried out relief, rescue and rehabilitation operations in many other incidents of natural calamities:

Rescue and Relief – Akola Floods, 2002

Rescue and Relief after stampede at Mandhardevi Temple, 2005

Maharashtra Flood Relief – 2005

Maharashtra Flood Relief – 2006

Bihar Flood Relief - 2008

Nepal Earthquake - 2015

The earthquake of 7.8 magnitude on 25th April 2015, followed by a slew of after shocks and eventually followed by yet another quake of magnitude 7.3 on 12th May 2015 in Nepal have thrown the country off balance. Both quakes struck at a depth of 15 km. Destruction to life and property has been tremendous with over 8000 dead and over 5.6 million affected in 39 districts while 2.8 million internally displaced.

Going by the reports up to 90 per cent of the health facilities in Ramechapp, Nuwakot, Sindhupalchowk and Gorkha have been severely damaged. As per the 19th May report released by the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) a total of 1100 health facilities have been either fully or partially damaged.(Source: WHO Situation Report#17, 19 development. th May 2015)

The India- Nepal relations have been very cordial and the Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji has instructed the government of India and requested the people of India to reach out to Nepal in these troubled times in every possible manner. BJS looks upon this as an opportunity to further strengthen the ties between both countries.