Anglican Communion News Service

See [ACNS2509] for more information

20th June 2001

Dear Friend,

Warm Greetings to you from the Church of North India. As said in my earlier communication that Gujarat is slowly returning to normalcy. Thanks to the worldwide community for their overwhelming response. Apart from what the Diocese of Gujarat has received directly from within the country and outside we have received Rs.2.50 Crore towards Gujarat Earthquake Reconstruction Program till writing of this note. Trusting in God and in response to the partnership you have extended we have decided to undertake the following projects in three phases:

1. First Phase:
   
   
   1. 164 houses with basic infrastructure like Primary School, Panchayat Office, Primary Health Center, Roads, Sewage and Drainage System, Water Supply, Electric Supply etc. in Village Mavnugram in the district Jamnagar costing about 4 Crore.
   2. 36 houses belonging to Christians in Gandhigram and Bhuj costing about Rs. 50 Lakhs.

    

2. Second Phase: Repairs and Renovation of 32 Church Buildings, 9 other Buildings, 15 Pastors' Houses and 6 Community Halls costing about 1.20 Crore.



3. Third Phase: Some School and Hostel buildings run by the Gujarat Christian Service Society have been badly affected and I understand that they have directly approached the Presbyterian Church in Ireland for assistance.

In the light of the above it is now clear that the total requirement of fund for the two phases comes to about Rs. 5.70 Crore and we have received Rs.2.50 Crore only till writing of this report. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Presbyterin Church in Canada and the Methodist Church have made some commitments and their contributions are still awaited.

The Diocese of Gujarat has already constituted the widely represented CNI Gujarat Diocese Earthquake Reconstruction Committee and has recently appointed the Technical Management Expert. An extract from the Project Report submitted by the Technical Management Expert is enclosed herewith as an attachment. According to the mutually agreed Project Implementation Chart the preliminary work is going on presently and the actual construction will begin from 1st September 2001 and is expected to complete by 23rd February 2002. Due to various paper work with the Government initial preliminary work got delayed. In the meantime two Community Organisers will be placed in the village by the CNI Synodical Board of Social Services who will work with the villagers for perspective building towards holistic development of the village.

I shall keep you informed as the reconstruction work makes progress and I would earnestly request you to continue to pray so that the work should not get held up for want of the resources.

Yours in His Mission,

Revd Enos Das Pradhan
Treasurer, Church of North India Synod