Gujarat Reconstruction Project

Gujarat Reconstruction Project

We are a group of professional organisations and charitable societies. We have already commenced work for helping the victims of Gujarat Earthquake. A brief strategy is given below. More details are given in the enclosures.

1. Associations.

Bombay Chartered Accountants’ Society (with 7000 members from Bombay); Chamber of Income-tax Consultants (with 3000 members from Bombay); Shree Jivanlal Keshrichand Memorial Trust; Chanchalbahen Shah Charitable Trust and Limbdi Seva Mandal have joined together to execute the work. Professionals’ contribution will be in two manners - in terms of time and money.

2. Direct Monitoring.

It has been decided that we will do the work through our own volunteers and will not be handing over the funds to any other society.

We (Chanchalbahen Shah Trust and Limbdi Seva Mandal) have been active in Gujarat for last several years and have strong teams of proven and enthusiastic volunteers at Surendra Nagar, Limbdi and Thangadh.

Chamber of Income-tax Consultants is a 70 years old organisation. Bombay Chartered Accountants’ Society is a 50 years old organisation. Both are well respected organisations in the professional field in Bombay. In the past, they have contributed at the time of national calamities. For the first time they have decided to activate their own members, associate with other organisations and help the earthquake victims.

Our teams from Mumbai are regularly visiting the affected area. These teams will be supervising the work.

3. Decisions taken in the first round.

At the first stage, it has been decided to do the following work:

3.1 To help building houses for 50 poorest families from Limbdi;

3.2 To help building houses for 50 poorest families from Thangadh;

3.3 To help building houses for 40 landless labourers from Chanpar Village in Vadhwan taluka;

3.4
To help complete reconstruction of school building - Mulchand Jivraj High School being managed by the Limbdi Municipality. This one building houses two schools.

3.5
To help repairs work for Pragna Chakshu Mahila Seva Kunj, Surendra Nagar. This school is run by Mrs. Muktabahen Dagli, a blind woman herself. It houses about 70 blind girls and works for making them independent.

3.6
Twenty rooms for schools will be built in different villages near Thangadh.

This is our first round of work depending upon the donations and commitments already received. As we get more donations, we will expand the scope of work.

4. Professional Help.

It has been decided that the professional organisations - Bombay Chartered Accountants’ Society (BCAS) and Chamber of Income-tax Consultants (CITC) will concentrate on helping schools and colleges. Rest of the organisations will concentrate on building individual houses.

The professional organisations have also expressed the desire to help the concerned schools in improving the teaching, introducing computers & internet and other latest subjects in the schools and colleges. Groups of two or three members will be assigned to individual schools. They will frequently visit the concerned schools for next three years and help them achieve international standards.

5. Overhead Expenses - 0%

All these five organisations have also decided to pick up all the overhead expenses incurred in the process. Hence donations received from all other donors will be spent 100% for the benefit of the earthquake victims. The overhead expenses include: travelling and telephone expenses, salaries of civil engineers and other staff appointed for the job; printing and stationery and other miscellaneous expenses.

6. Our Contribution

At the present stage, we have proposed to contribute Rs. 30,000 per family that had “Kachha” houses. We have also tied up with the Rotary Club of India. They will be providing further help of U.S. $ 1000 per family for maximum 300 families. The total contribution per house will be approximately Rs. 75,000. This will be sufficient to build a small house of about 300 square feet. Our contribution may change depending upon grant by Gujarat Government. We would like to ensure that altogether the family should be able to build a small house of about 300 sq. feet.

Collector of Surendra Nagar district Mr. H. B. Varia has promised full and active support in our activities. As per the present plans, Government of Gujarat will be paying Rs. 1,40,000 per urban “pucca” house which has completely collapsed. Families that receive this grant, do not need our support.

Since our funds are limited, we are starting with the poorest families. As the funds increase, we may consider middle class families also.

7. Transparency and Accountability

We will provide a direct link between the donor and the beneficiary in the following manners:

7.1 Each beneficiary family’s and their house photographs will be taken before, during and after reconstruction work. These photographs together with the names and address of the family members will be provided to the donor. Thus, if Mr. X has given a donation of Rs. 30,000 and this money is used for helping one family, Mr. X will get the photographs etc. for one family. If Mr. Y gives a donation of Rs. 3,00,000; he will be given the photographs etc. for ten families.

If the donor permits, we will give his name and address to the beneficiaries. Both the parties can directly communicate with each other.

We will maintain registers linking the donors and the beneficiaries and these registers will be open for inspection by any donor.

7.2 Where the donor desires, his name will be put up on a marble granite plate at the buildings reconstructed with his donation.

8. At Limbdi, Shri Ramkrishna Mission is active. Swami Pragji Maharaj is actively helping us in selection of beneficiaries and other policy matters.

9.
Each house to be rebuilt will be earthquake resistant as advised by civil engineers and architects.

10. Appeal

10.1 The destruction in Gujarat is massive. At Limbdi alone, 4000 houses have collapsed. At Rs. 75,000 per house, (actual total loss may be more or less. Rs. 75,000 is a quick estimate for a small house) the reconstruction cost for such houses alone will be Rs. 30 crores. Out of this, in our first round, we have taken up only 50 houses.

10.2 If we consider the repair cost of other buildings, damage to schools, hospitals and infrastructure, the total reconstruction cost in Limbdi alone may be more than Rs. 50 crores.

Similarly, several schools and colleges in Surendra Nagar, Thangadh and surrounding areas in villages require reconstruction.

10.3 We sincerely request you to grant maximum contribution that you can make:

To give a simple idea of the amounts involved:

(i) 200 houses @ Rs. 75,000 per house in Limbdi - Rs. 1,50,00,000

(ii) 200 houses @ Rs. 75,000 per house in villages - Rs. 1,50,00,000

(iii) 5 urban schools @ Rs. 25,00,000 per school - Rs. 1,25,00,000

(iv) 50 village schools @ 1,25,000 - Rs. 62,50,000

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Rs. 4,87,50,000
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Total - Rs. 4.87 crores.

Brief Report on work done and Introduction of the Associations:

1. Chanchalbahen Manilal Shah and Manilal Kushalchand Shah Charitable Trust (Chanchalbahen Shah Trust).

1.1 This trust is floated by NRIs. Prominent professionals and philanthropists have joined in as trustees. They have been making donations for several purposes for more than ten years. They have committed a donation of Rs. 1 crore for Water Management in Surendra Nagar district. So far, about 60 lakhs have been spent. By now about thirty lakes have been desilted and the villagers have got significant benefits. With the help of this contribution as the “seed money”, total work done in the area is more than Rs. 5 crores. Balance money has come from villagers’ contributions, other donations and substantial help from Gujarat Government.

This trust has also committed Rs. 1 crore for tree plantation. So far, a few hundred trees have been grown. Out of this unutilised grant, the trust has committed Rs. 25 lakhs for the earthquake relief fund. It has also collected private donations of about Rs. 5 lakhs for earthquake relief fund.

1.2 In the first week after the earthquake, the trust has collected blankets, clothes and food material worth more than Rs. 7 lakhs. Three truck loads of materials were sent to (i) Surendra Nagar, (ii) Thangadh and (iii) Kutchh.

Trustees of the trust are: Dr. Nautamlal Shah, Shri Pravinbhai Gambhirbhai Shah, Shri Rashmin Sanghvi etc.

2. Limbdi Seva Mandal

This trust has been working exclusively for Water Management in Limbdi taluka. It has got ground level excellent volunteers. Prominent citizens of Limbdi including industrialists, traders and trustees of several trusts in Limbdi are themselves working for the project. They have now decided to focus on the earthquake relief work.

It is also decided that wherever they work for earthquake relief, they will also try for Water Management work.

Some of the trustees are: at Mumbai - Shri Pravinbhai Gambhirbhai Shah, Shri Bharatbhai Shah, Shri Rashmin Sanghvi etc.

: at Limbdi - Dr. B. R. Buch, Shri Jayeshbhai Dagli, Shri Balbhadra Sinh Rana etc.

3. Shree Jivanlal Keshrichand Memorial Trust

This trust is operating for more than twenty years. It is managing a “Dharamshala” at Radhanpur and providing relief to the poor. It provides scholarships for education and medical relief. Smt. Sarlabahen Parekh is a trustee.

4. The Chamber of Income Tax Consultants (CITC)

The Chamber of Income Tax Consultants (CITC) Established in 1926, is one of the oldest Voluntary non-profit making organisation formed with the object of educating and updating its members on the Direct Tax Laws. It has a Membership Strength of about 3000 Professionals, Comprising of Chartered Accountants, Advocates and Tax Practitioners.

The CITC regularly organises Workshops, Seminars, Lecture Meetings, Study Circle meetings, Study Group Meetings, Education Courses, Outstation Conferences, etc. for the benefit of members and General Public.

Its Popular Monthly Journal “Income Tax Review” consists of Special Issue covering in-depth analysis on topics of Professional interest. Its Monthly News Letter, CITC keeps members updated on various events.

CITC is active in filing public interest litigation, for instance TDS, VDIS, Service Tax, KVSS, etc., presenting pre and post-budget Memoranda and making representations to the Government and various Departments including the regulatory authorities. Administrative issues are also taken up with the respective Departments.

The members of the CITC enjoy a unique bond of fellowship and brother-hood which is evident in all its activities and Programmes.

Present President of the Chamber is the eminent tax counsel Mr. V. H. Patil.

5. Bombay Chartered Accountants’ Society (BCAS)

Bombay Chartered Accountants’ Society (BCAS) was established as a voluntary organisation on 6th July, 1949 with a membership strength of 29. BCAS presently has around 7000 members in its family, not only from Mumbai but from all over the country. Through continuing education which is the main object of the Society, it caters to the needs of its members in particular and tax paying public in general and ensures that its members keep pace with changing times.

‘Research is a door of hope which enhances a man to live a better life’ so said Bertrand Russel. The Society in its humble way carries out research on various subjects in the field of Accountancy, Taxation and other allied subjects and publishes the outcome of such efforts in the form of books so as to share the knowledge with society in general.

Every Year the Society also publishes a Diary and Referencer which has proved to be an invaluable guide to all professionals and others in industry. The Society also publishes its journal titled ‘BCA Journal’ which is subscribed not only by its members but by corporate bodies and also by the tax department. The Society also makes representations to various authorities on different laws which are in offing. The representation include pre and post budget memorandum being submitted to the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.

With the opening up of economy and globalisation of trade and industries, Society also went Internet. The website of the Society serves as a very good source of information and interaction for members.

The Society has frequently contributed donations to help victims of national calamities. This time, the society has decided to activate its own members & help the earthquake victims directly. Present President of the Society is Mr. Rajesh Shah. Chairman of the Gujarat Reconstruction Programme is Mr. Narayan Varma.