Narendra Modi led rescue efforts in Uttarakhand are not publicity gimmicks
By : Madhu Kishwar
When on Saturday evening, TV channels brought the news that Narendra Modi's visit to Uttarakhand to oversee relief operations had kicked off a major political storm, I decided to go and check for myself whether this was indeed a cheap publicity gimmick as alleged by the Congress or a serious response to a tragedy.
Here's my take, one that I know will find many disagreeing: those who call Modi a Rambo or a publicity-hungry politician have no clue what they are dealing with. Consider the following. Gujarat today has a fighting-fit bureaucracy because it was enabled to develop expertise, team spirit and deliver results under the most adverse circumstances.
The Gujarat Disaster Management Authority ( GDMA) has become a thoroughly professional institution capable of responding to natural or man-made disasters. It has a 24x7 monitoring system and well-publicised helpline numbers well known to Gujaratis - both in the country and abroad. Modi has succeeded in conveying to the citizens of Gujarat that the government is always there to serve them. That is why the first response of Gujaratis anywhere in the world is to contact the chief minister's office if they are caught in a calamity.
Also, consider this. Modi arrived in Delhi late 17th night for a meeting with the Planning Commission on 18th when news of cloudburst and landslides was telecast on TV. He held an emergency meeting to take stock of the situation since he knew that thousands of Gujaratis are likely to be among the Chardham pilgrims . Right away, a camp office was opened at Gujarat Bhavan and the Resident Commissioner's team in Delhi was made responsible for coordinating with Gujarati pilgrims.
Early-Mover Advantage
On the 18th morning, Modi called Dr Pranav Pandya of the All World Gayatri Parivar to provide space and infrastructure in his Shanti Kunj campus for the relief centre proposed to be set up by the Gujarat government . He chose this campus because of his close knowledge of, and rapport with, this Gandhian institution that can house and feed thousands of people at a short notice.
It has a 2,000-strong community of swayamsevaks on the campus, plus 3,000-odd students of the Dev Sanskriti University. The campus also has a well-run hospital.
On the 18th evening itself, a set of computers with internet connections , telephone lines, television sets and all other paraphernalia required for Gujarat government's relief operation were set up. Therefore, when a team of Gujarat government IAS, IPS and IFS officers came, they could get going within minutes of reaching Shanti Kunj.
Team Gujarat had two officers from Uttarakhand - Assistant Director General of Police Bisht and Forest Service officer SC Pant - who had close knowledge of the terrain to guide both the stranded pilgrims as well as rescue teams on the safest possible routes to take. ADG Bisht went straight to Gupta Kashi from where the rescue operations are being launched.
A team of seven doctors trained in handling such emergencies, led by an orthopaedic surgeon, not only put in place an efficient first-aid service but are also attending to those severely injured.
I saw them go around to other relief camps and railway stations to attend to non-Gujaratis as well. The mandate of Team Gujarat in Uttarakhand is: take good care of rescued pilgrims as they arrive but send them home at the earliest possible in the most comfortable manner . Don't worry about expenditure or numbers.
When on Saturday evening, TV channels brought the news that Narendra Modi's visit to Uttarakhand to oversee relief operations had kicked off a major political storm, I decided to go and check for myself whether this was indeed a cheap publicity gimmick as alleged by the Congress or a serious response to a tragedy.
Here's my take, one that I know will find many disagreeing: those who call Modi a Rambo or a publicity-hungry politician have no clue what they are dealing with. Consider the following. Gujarat today has a fighting-fit bureaucracy because it was enabled to develop expertise, team spirit and deliver results under the most adverse circumstances.
The Gujarat Disaster Management Authority ( GDMA) has become a thoroughly professional institution capable of responding to natural or man-made disasters. It has a 24x7 monitoring system and well-publicised helpline numbers well known to Gujaratis - both in the country and abroad. Modi has succeeded in conveying to the citizens of Gujarat that the government is always there to serve them. That is why the first response of Gujaratis anywhere in the world is to contact the chief minister's office if they are caught in a calamity.
Also, consider this. Modi arrived in Delhi late 17th night for a meeting with the Planning Commission on 18th when news of cloudburst and landslides was telecast on TV. He held an emergency meeting to take stock of the situation since he knew that thousands of Gujaratis are likely to be among the Chardham pilgrims . Right away, a camp office was opened at Gujarat Bhavan and the Resident Commissioner's team in Delhi was made responsible for coordinating with Gujarati pilgrims.
Early-Mover Advantage
On the 18th morning, Modi called Dr Pranav Pandya of the All World Gayatri Parivar to provide space and infrastructure in his Shanti Kunj campus for the relief centre proposed to be set up by the Gujarat government . He chose this campus because of his close knowledge of, and rapport with, this Gandhian institution that can house and feed thousands of people at a short notice.
It has a 2,000-strong community of swayamsevaks on the campus, plus 3,000-odd students of the Dev Sanskriti University. The campus also has a well-run hospital.
On the 18th evening itself, a set of computers with internet connections , telephone lines, television sets and all other paraphernalia required for Gujarat government's relief operation were set up. Therefore, when a team of Gujarat government IAS, IPS and IFS officers came, they could get going within minutes of reaching Shanti Kunj.
Team Gujarat had two officers from Uttarakhand - Assistant Director General of Police Bisht and Forest Service officer SC Pant - who had close knowledge of the terrain to guide both the stranded pilgrims as well as rescue teams on the safest possible routes to take. ADG Bisht went straight to Gupta Kashi from where the rescue operations are being launched.
A team of seven doctors trained in handling such emergencies, led by an orthopaedic surgeon, not only put in place an efficient first-aid service but are also attending to those severely injured.
I saw them go around to other relief camps and railway stations to attend to non-Gujaratis as well. The mandate of Team Gujarat in Uttarakhand is: take good care of rescued pilgrims as they arrive but send them home at the earliest possible in the most comfortable manner . Don't worry about expenditure or numbers.
Smooth Operators
As always, officers on the ground have been empowered to take onthe-spot decisions, to decide how many buses or taxis they need, how many pilgrims need to be sent by air and what kind of aircraft to order. I saw senior IAS officers working 24x7 alongside very junior staff in one single room as a close-knit team.
When Modi landed in Dehradun, Team Gujarat was already in control . Far from attacking the state government , he offered all possible help.
Upset Congress
In addition, he synergised resources , energised BJP workers to get going, not just for immediate relief but also long-term reconstruction work. All his officers were provided phone numbers of BJP functionaries of all 190 blocks in Uttarakhand and vice versa. As usual, he worked to guide and streamline the operations . There was genuine spirit of cooperation and teamwork.
The Congress party is understandably upset because its chief minister has proved a disaster, its party machinery is in disarray, Congress Sewa Dal workers are nowhere in sight, Rahul Gandhi's Youth Brigade is clueless even in routine situations , leave alone know how to face a crisis like the Uttarakhand deluge.
That is the reality of the Uttarakhand relief operation led by Narendra Modi.
The writer is founder, Manushi, and professor, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies
As always, officers on the ground have been empowered to take onthe-spot decisions, to decide how many buses or taxis they need, how many pilgrims need to be sent by air and what kind of aircraft to order. I saw senior IAS officers working 24x7 alongside very junior staff in one single room as a close-knit team.
When Modi landed in Dehradun, Team Gujarat was already in control . Far from attacking the state government , he offered all possible help.
Upset Congress
In addition, he synergised resources , energised BJP workers to get going, not just for immediate relief but also long-term reconstruction work. All his officers were provided phone numbers of BJP functionaries of all 190 blocks in Uttarakhand and vice versa. As usual, he worked to guide and streamline the operations . There was genuine spirit of cooperation and teamwork.
The Congress party is understandably upset because its chief minister has proved a disaster, its party machinery is in disarray, Congress Sewa Dal workers are nowhere in sight, Rahul Gandhi's Youth Brigade is clueless even in routine situations , leave alone know how to face a crisis like the Uttarakhand deluge.
That is the reality of the Uttarakhand relief operation led by Narendra Modi.
The writer is founder, Manushi, and professor, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies
