12 February, 2001

To: Shri Keshubhai Patel
Chief Minister of Gujarat
New Sachivalaya,
Gandhinagar, Gujarat

Dear Shri Keshubhai,

We, the concerned citizens and representatives of various people's organizations, recognize the stupendous task of rehabilitation of the earthquake affected regions of Gujarat, particularly Kutch and Saurashtra.

We are and will be with the people in rebuilding their lives and communities.

We welcome the government's efforts in coordinating and harnessing the work of different organizations committed to this task.

We, having worked in the various fields of society, and in times of calamities, both natural and human-made, and having experienced the happenings in the recent earthquake affected areas in Gujarat, firmly believe that there are certain fundamental principles which should govern the process and plan of rehabilitation which will give a real opportunity to the people to build a self-reliant and sustainable community.

We would urge that the government and all other stakeholders should keep these principles in mind while determining the policy and program for the same. These we believe, should also serve ad the criteria for entering into any understanding and plans for collaboration among the various agencies including the State, NGOs, and also any private corporation.

Sincerely,

Jst. (Retd) Ravani, Ahmedabad
Girish Patel, Advocate Lok Adhikar Sangh, Ahmedabad
Haroobhai Mehta, Advocate, High Court, Gujarat
Mahesh Bhatt, Advocate, Ahmedabad
Medha Patkar, Narmada Bachao Andolan & National Alliance of People's Movements
Charul Bharawada, Architect and Planner, Abhigam, Ahmedabad
Ravi Kuchimanchi, Civil Engineer Association for India's Development, Mumbai
Rupal & Rajendra Desai, Architects, TARU, Ahmedabad
Dinkar Dave, Samanvaya Guajrat, Ahmedabad
Rajni Dave Manviya Technology Forum, Ahmedabad
Tushar Shah Cardiac Surgeon, Ahmedabad

Cc: Shri A.B. Vajpayee, Prime Minister of India
Cc: Shri Jagmohan, Urban Development Minister, Union of India
Cc: Smt. Menaka Gandhi, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Union of India