Bhuj Earthquake 25th Anniversary: Pune's Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana's Remarkable 90-Day School Revival Effort
As India marks the 25th anniversary of the devastating Bhuj earthquake on January 26, a remarkable story of resilience and humanitarian effort emerges from Pune. The Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana, led by Shantilal Muttha, orchestrated a swift mission to rebuild education for over 1 lakh children in just 90 days, using innovative semi-permanent structures that later served as life-saving shelters in another major disaster.
Immediate Response and Strategic Planning
Within a mere 12 hours after the 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Bhuj in Gujarat in 2001, Shantilal Muttha, a Pune-based leader of the Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana, had already formulated a comprehensive plan for temporary shelters in the affected areas. Muttha, now 71, vividly recalls how teams were rapidly mobilised to address the urgent needs of the community, with a special focus on children who had lost their schools and normalcy.
"We realised that caring for children was especially important," Muttha said, highlighting how the organisation included children previously supported during the Killari-Latur earthquake to assist in relief work, fostering a sense of solidarity and purpose among the youth.
Construction of Semi-Permanent Schools
A survey conducted by the Sanghatana revealed that 515 schools had collapsed in the earthquake-ravaged regions of Kutch, particularly in Bhuj, Bhachau, and Anjar tehsils. To ensure students could resume their studies promptly, the decision was made to construct semi-permanent structures. Muttha, leveraging his role as Vice President of the Promoters and Builders Association of Pune, mobilised engineers, architects, and contractors from various districts of Maharashtra.
The construction utilised precast structures for rapid assembly, with a standard design developed for the schools. Foundations were laid, and strong Siporex blocks were used to erect durable buildings. To combat the heat, corrugated sheets sourced from Jalgaon were incorporated into the design. Within three months of the earthquake, these semi-permanent schools were completed and handed over to the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, accommodating 1.20 lakh affected students across 368 structures.
From Schools to Shelters: The 2005 Jammu and Kashmir Earthquake
These semi-permanent structures, initially built as educational facilities, proved to be versatile and invaluable. After serving as schools for at least five years, they were repurposed during the October 2005 earthquake that struck Jammu and Kashmir, causing massive devastation and loss of life. At the request of the then Union home minister and with encouragement from the National Disaster Management Authority and the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Muttha and his team undertook a project to transport and reassemble these structures as shelters in the valley.
A technical assessment confirmed the suitability of the shelters for the region, and materials were transported from Gandhidham to Kashmir on four special trains. This innovative reuse demonstrated the foresight and adaptability of the Sanghatana's disaster response efforts, turning educational infrastructure into life-saving havens during another crisis.
Legacy and Impact
The initiative not only provided immediate relief but also had a lasting impact on disaster management strategies in India. By focusing on children's education and well-being, the Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana highlighted the importance of psychological and social recovery in post-disaster scenarios. The collaboration with then Gujarat education minister Anandiben Patel, now Governor of Uttar Pradesh, further underscored the significance of public-private partnerships in effective disaster response.
As we reflect on the 25th anniversary of the Bhuj earthquake, this story serves as a powerful reminder of human ingenuity and compassion in the face of adversity. The efforts of Pune's Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana continue to inspire, showing how structured, swift action can rebuild communities and save lives across different regions and disasters.
