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| CHARITABLE
WORK & FUNDRAISING EFFORTS |
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| Bhopal
Disaster Fund 1984 - 1985 |
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The
Methyl lso Cyanide (MIC) gas leak in December 1994 at the Union
Carbide factory in Bhopal killed over 10,000 people and affected
200,000 others. The news was relayed to a stunned gathering
at the Lohana Community North London dinner and in a spontaneous
response, £7,000 was collected!
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was felt that an on-site study of the needs of the victims was
required. We were fortunate that one of our leaders, Jayantibhai
Tanna was able to carry out this survey by visiting Bhopal.
Jayantibhai met with a range of charities and hospital Consultants.
He was advised that most victims of eye damage had been treated.
However, a high number of victims complained of breathing difficulties
and tiredness. They needed breathing exercises and health education
in particular. However, there was no trained medical staff in
Bhopal who could carry out this task. |
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The
Dean at Gandhi Medical College Dr. N.R Mishra therefore requested
Jayantibhai to arrange the services of specialist chest physiotherapists
from the world-renowned Brompton Chest Hospital in London who
could stay in Bhopal and train the local doctors and nurses.
On behalf of the LCNL committee, Jayantibhai was able to get
Brompton Hospital to release two senior chest physiotherapists
to go to Bhopal for a month, train medical staff and distribute
essential medical equipment.
The local medical teams then took over the chest physiotherapy
and trained patients to regain much of their lung capacity and
lead more normal lives once again. The funding was used to pay
the salaries, travel and expenses of the two expert physiotherapists
as well as for specialist medical equipment. The Gandhi Medical
College thanked LCNL for our concern, generosity and support.
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| Gujarat
Cyclone Releif Fund 1998 - 1999 |
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In
view of the terrible tragedy created by the cyclone in Gujarat
in August 1998, a Gujarat Cyclone Relief Fund was launched.
Through the generosity of our members, just over £19,000
was collected. Apart from other smaller schemes, three major
projects were financed from this funding. In Kalyanpur, we helped
with accommodation for college students. We provided a dining
hall with furniture, a fully fitted kitchen and bathroom and
toilet facilities.
A block of 6 flats damaged by a tower was rebuilt in Porbander
supervised by our local representative Shri Mohanbhai Kotecha.
Substantial building repairs were carried out to a college in
Dharampur enabling 420 students to continue their courses. The
project was completed through the painstaking efforts of Shree
Manubhai Radia, Shree Amratlal Radia and Shree Jamnadas Raithatha
who personally visited the affected areas at their own expense,
assessed the needs and distributed the funds.
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| Gujarat
Drought Releif Fund 2000 - 2001 |
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areas in Gujarat suffered from severe drought conditions in
April 2000. The victims of the drought were helped considerably
by the charitable work of our community. An appeal for funds
was made in May 2000 and nearly £14,000 was collected.
It was decided to use the money to build thirteen 'Water Check
Dams' (5-Rinari; 2- Daldevalia; 2-Samda; i-Vasai; i-Balachadi;
2 Mota Modha) through Jamnagar Jilla Samaj Kalyan Sangh. These
'Water Check Dams' would help conserve water for many years
to come. Janubhai Kotecha and Kantibhai Devani subsequently
visited the dams and were satisfied with the work. They also
reported that the local residents found the facility of continuous
access to water of immense value and great relief. |
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