Gujarat Earthquake – January 2001: As soon as we learnt about the earthquake disaster in Gujarat, IDRF volunteers right away initiated a massive fund-raising campaign in support of the rescue, relief and rehabilitation - development operations in the affected region of Gujarat state in India. This natural disaster by Indian standards was unprecedented in recent history, causing more than 20,000 deaths and life-threatening injuries to 167,000 people. The response among the Indian American community and American society at large was overwhelming and beyond our comprehension, leading to our fundraising of more than $3.25 million. As usual, IDRF spent only a small percentage towards the rescue and relief operations (approximately $100,000) and the remaining amount for the long-term resettlement of the affected people.


For the resettlement program we developed a special relationship with two dozen NGOs in India and disbursed more than $3 million to them over a period of four - five years.


We adopted two villages, which included total rehabilitation of the population, construction of roads, provision of electricity and water supply, communal bathrooms, places of worship, and community halls. In addition, we adopted seven schools and supported partial reconstruction of many more schools and hostels, besides several hospitals/medical clinics, and self-help group projects empowering women for their economic self-reliance.