How Narendra Modi masterminded Kutch's rubble renaissance

Around 50 people gathered in a large room in Chobari in 2002. Having lost half of their village to the Kutch earthquake a year prior, they were in a sombre mood. As people remembered their lost loved ones, Narendra Modi, the newly elected Chief Minister of Gujarat, walked in. Sitting solemnly among the grieving families, Modi closed his eyes and started chanting, 'Shree Ram, Jai Ram, Jai Jai Ram.'

The entire room broke into tears and joined Modi, their spirits uplifted by his presence. A sense of belonging crept in, and a new ray of hope entered the room.

If the 1979 Morbi floods had brought Modi's leadership skills to the fore at the age of 29, the 2001 Kutch earthquake tested his resolve as a senior administrator. Similar to Morbi, Modi was one of the first responders in Kutch. Serving as the BJP's general secretary in New Delhi at that time, Modi rushed to his home state, leaving all his personal matters behind.

His work on the ground didn't go unnoticed in the country’s corridors of power; within months, Modi was named the Chief Minister of Gujarat.

And the rest is history…

The book "RESILIENT INDIA: How Modi transformed India's Disaster Management Paradigm" recounts first-hand experiences of victims and volunteers, providing a detailed account of the meticulous planning that went into rebuilding Kutch and the rest of Gujarat. Also on record are personal narratives of several bureaucrats, corporates, and NGOs who helped transform Modi's vision into a reality.

The tragedy of Kutch

In 2001, India witnessed its worst natural disaster since Independence. The Kutch earthquake left nearly 1.67 lakh dead and destroyed over 2 lakh houses. When Modi took over as CM, as many as 21 of Gujarat’s 25 districts, including Ahmedabad, Jamnagar, and Rajkot, were still in tatters after the destruction wreaked by the temblor.

Initially, the challenges in Kutch were similar to those in Morbi, even though the earthquake was of a much larger magnitude. Being on the ground, Modi quickly assessed the damages. From protecting cattle to saving people, Modi did not leave a single soul behind. Like he had one at Morbi, Modi, ignoring personal comfort, stayed in Kutch for two months, overseeing the rehabilitation work. His previous experience of handling a disaster and leading a team of volunteers came full circle after two decades.

"Let's convert this disaster into an opportunity."

Modi's grand vision of 'Aapda Me Avsar' infused new energy in volunteers. After taking over the reins of Gujarat, he approached the situation with efficiency, transparency, speed, and the full might of his administration. Modi was no longer a bystander trying to help; he was now at the forefront of things. His role in the  relief work extended beyond the "cosy confines of the CM office in Gandhinagar”, the book notes. In fact, many close to Modi observed how he was not keen on just going through files; instead, he was interested in ground work.

Modi set an ambitious target of completing the rehabilitation process and redeveloping the affected areas in three years. Even more significantly, in the aftermath of the 2001 earthquake, the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA) was established. A first of its kind body in India, the GSDMA would later serve as a benchmark for the rest of the country to follow.

Thiruppugazh, an IAS officer who served at the GSDMA in its formative years, pointed out how Modi "did not wait to make a new policy". Rather, Modi would say, "the policy is already in place, and let's implement it".

Maheshwar Sahu, another IAS officer who worked with the GSDMA, said, "He gave us a deadline of less than three years, and the system delivered. Kutch became one of the fastest disaster reconstruction programs in the world."

From ruins to resilience: Gujarat's success story

In an era of rampant red-tape, Modi ironed out all bureaucratic hurdles. He drew stringent deadlines and followed up personally on Gujarat's rebuilding journey. With the help of futuristic technology, nearly 3 lakh houses were rebuilt. The reconstruction of houses and infrastructure was done in a way that made them resistant against any future earthquakes. The owner-driven construction or Jan Bhagidari system was applied and houses were segregated according to the extent of the damages.

Most importantly, Modi ensured that the flow of funds and relief material was leak-free and devoid of corruption. At least 6.5 lakh bank accounts were opened, and the money was disbursed to beneficiaries within a few months.

The Kutch model eventually became a super hit. The whole world paused to admire as Kutch, one of the worst-affected areas, rapidly grew into an industrial and tourism hub within four years.

Years later, recollecting Kutch's miraculous journey after becoming the Prime Minister, Modi said, "Today, Kutch has the world's largest cement plants and second-largest textile plant. Asia's first Special Economic Zone has been set up in Kutch. Over 30 per cent of India's salt is produced in Kutch. The dream that we saw for Kutch during 2001-02 during those adverse times is now a reality in front of our eyes."

Indeed, one man’s grit and vision ensured that, from the rubble of disaster and disappointment, emerged a stronger and self-reliant state with citizens’ welfare at the forefront of its priorities.