By Law Kumar Mishra
We recall Mr Rajiv Gandhi on his birthday today. Saurashtra and Kutch should appreciate his contributions for Asiatic lions, providing drinking water, fodder to cattle during the 1984-88 severe drought.
I was doing Naukari for The Times of India in the region. It was his quick decision and action to arrange transportation of water by train from Gandhinagar to Rajkot, 230 km and Amreli to Rajkot.
The first water train reached Rajkot on May 2,1986. Six trains with 3.76 lakh litre water reached daily covering 230 kms for Nayari filter plant and subsequent delivery through tankers with strict rationing as water became a law and order problem.
He instantly sanctioned Rs 35 lakhs for Bhadar-Rajkot pipeline and his Principal Secretary Sarla Grewal stayed at Rajkot for other drought fighting measures.
Rajiv ordered immediate transportation of fodder from Haryana, Punjab by trains and trucks, visited Asia’s biggest cattle relief camp at Rafaleshwar, went deep into the relief camps at Anandpur in Kutch, inquired about the wages as Chief Minister Amar Singh Chaudhury stood there, He must have visited the region twice in a month.
Drove Jonga Jeep from Surendranagar circuit house, stopped at half a dozen relief camps, waited for the passenger train to pass as his carcade stopped at railway crossing near Wankaner. CK Koshy, then relief commissioner said Rajiv had worked till 2.30 am at Bhuj, landed at Rajkot at 8.30 and had slept for three hours only. For the drought that hit Sasan Gir, he ordered immediate supply of water by tankers in all the dried water holes, preventing lions from killing domestic animals. Like human beings, lions were not made to die of thirst, cattle did not suffer due to fodder problems.
His instructions included start relief works, do not wait for sanctions and none died of starvation, none exploited by the money lenders.
Jetpur saree industry also saved due to his efforts as he emphasised on creation of permanent assets, not only massive digging operations. Bhadresh Upadhaya, photographer of Jansatta was taking photos of Rajiv and Sonia without break, and when the carcadè stopped at a traffic point, Sonia smilingly handed over a bag full of cotton Jetpur sarees to him. Officers and employees of public sector and Central government units were facilitated with monthly water allowances.
(The author is a senior journalist)
