The presence of volunteers gives comfort and relief to the victims of communal violence in Gujarat.

For the people in Aman Chauk, Sundaram Nagar and Juni Medeawali Chawl in Ahmadabad, it was a sigh of relief to see everyday a group of doctors, social workers and sisters coming to them and being with them during the days of their distress and pain. The people in these camps - all of them Muslims - were far away from their villages, most of their houses burnt, possessions lost, and worse still, most of them still under trauma and shock due to the loss of their dear ones and friends in the communal riots. They were all still under constant fear and anxiety, since violence against them could sporadically break out at any time. In the scorching heat, with limited supply of food and water and absolutely inadequate facilities in the camps, the visit of these volunteers was a gesture of great relief and comfort.


With the support of Caritas India, the CBCI Commission for Healthcare organized a team of medical doctors and social workers from Delhi and carried out the relief work in collaboration with the Social Service department of the Diocese of Ahmedabad. At an earlier visit to Gujarat with a multi-religious team from Delhi, Sadbhavana Tirthayatra, it was identified that the immediate needs in the camps were medical aid and trauma counseling. The Health Commission then organized a Trauma Counseling Session at the CBCI Centre, Delhi on April 13, 2002. Rev. Dr. P.O. Jose, sdb, who holds a doctorate in trauma counseling, conducted a programme on the theoretical and practical aspects of trauma counseling of the victims of riot. A video film of 25 minutes duration on the sad faces of the communal carnage in Gujarat was shown. Sufficient material on the topic and a report entitled “Gujarat Carnage 2002” prepared by an independent fact finding team, was also distributed to the participants. Thus the preparation helped their work and involvement with the people in the relief camps.


The team of volunteers left Delhi on May 9th. The team consisted of Sister Doctors Augusta, Emmanuel and Leas, social worker Srs. Maggie, Antonia, Remiya, Genevive, Principal Sr. Celinda, Frs. Lourduswamy, Dominic Emmanuel svd and Alex Vadakumthala all three of the CBCI, though the last three could not be present for the entire duration of stay. The accommodation was arranged in the Diocesan Pastoral Centre. The team worked mainly in three camps i.e. Aman Chauk, Sundram Nagar and Juni Medeawali Chawl. The team also visited and talked to victims at Shah Alam and Dariya Khan Ghummat camps, all within Ahemdabad, where there were 105 relief camps at that time.


The main work of the team was to offer medical and counseling services to the victims, many of who are still traumatized and very easily breakdown while relating their stories. The more one listens to their stories the more one could realize the organized brutal atrocity on a minority community.

One of the common experiences of the team was that people were very easy to talk to. They were very keen on sharing their woes and problems with the team members. There was a sense of satisfaction for all the members of the team for having had the opportunity to make its services available to the victims. The group also felt that their own faith was strengthened after witnessing the faith of victims in Allah or in Providence. Some felt that they profited more from the trip than the advantage they might have brought to the victims. True indeed that it is “better to light a candle rather than cursing the darkness!”

Name of the Project Relief Work for those affected by Communal Riots in Gujarat, India   Country India   Partners involved -Caritas India, CBCI Centre, Goledakkhana, New Delhi-110 001 -CBCI Commission for Healthcare, CBCI Centre, New Delhi-110 001 -Diocesan Social Service Centre, Nalkantha Seva Sangh, C/o Catholic Church, Hansol, Sardarnagar, Ahmedabad – 382 475   Target Groups and Partners’ Religious Denomination Muslims and Hindus   Nature and type of relationship with partner Humanitarian consideration   Areas covered by the project a. Building up of inter religious understanding and harmony b. Trauma counseling c. Medical aid   Socio Political and Economic Context of the Area     List of Useful Networks Fr. Cedric Prakash, S.J.,Director, “Prashant”, P.O. Box 4050, Navrangpra, Ahmedabad-380 009, Gujarat, India. Tel. 744 9744; 745 5913 Email; sjprashant@icenet.net Fr. Victor Pais, Diocesan Social Service Centre, Nalkantha Seva Sangh, C/o Catholic Church, Hansol, Sardarnagar, Ahmedabad – 382 475. Tel 079-286 1216 Email nalkantha@sify.com St. Xavier’s Social Service Society, P.B. No. 4088, Nabrangpura, Ahmedbad-380 00

 

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