Similarly almost all of the European and the Far East countries have made tremendous progress after being subjected to various degrees of man made destruction during the wars.
In our case, though much unfortunate, nature seems to have taken up this role of destruction to replace our cities, villages and dwellings by the better alternates. Ironically, it is akin to what Khyaam said, "Shatter it into bits and remould nearer heart's desire".
In order to have the Reconstruction and Rehabilitation nearer heart's desire, it would have to be planned meticulously and could take quite some time to be executed. Till then, tents and temporary abodes seem to be the answer for which the tent villages, tent schools and tent hospitals etc are being talked about.
While tents shall afford temporary shelter and some protection against the weather, they have their drawbacks also. The first and foremost, they are prone to fire. Bee wax is used for waterproofing of the tent fabric (cotton canvas), which is inflammable.
FIRE DISCIPLINE:
FOLLOWING CAN REDUCE THE FIRE HAZARDS GREATLY:
FIRE WALLS: Tents should not be pitched haphazardly too close to each other. Four or nine tents in a box formation (two in two rows or three in three rows) should be erected. 4 to 5 feet distance be kept between such boxes to act as fire wall.
FIRE POINTS: A fire point containing the following be established in the centre of 4 boxes:
1. Foam Fire Extinguisher
2. Stirrup pumps (hand pumps for spraying water from the water bucket)
3. Water Buckets
4. Sand buckets
5. Fire Beaters (Tennis racquet like wire mesh with long pole to beat the fire and flames to put them out)
6. Picks and Shovels
FIRE FIGHTING: Residents be trained in fire fighting. Periodic fire fighting drills must be carried out regularly.
FIRST AID: Training in First Aid be imparted to all.
WATER AND SANITATION:
DRINKING WATER: The need for clean and potable water cannot be over- emphasised.. Canvas water tanks of suitable capacity can be used to serve as 'Water Points', from where the residents can collect drinking water.
WATER FOR WASHING: Same as above, but water can be from local rivers and nullahs.
FIELD TOILETS: Each box (4 to 9 tents) must have its field toilet. A field toilet is a simple 6 feet high, 4ft x 4ft square screen, with entrance on one side and an overhead canopy to act as roof. It has a 2 feet dia, 8 feet deep hole with a wooden board having a 12 inch dia opening to use the deep trench latrine.
DRAINS: Suitable drains are a must for maintaining hygienic conditions in the tent village.
SOCIAL AND VOCATIONAL: The residents of the tent cities will be the unfortunate lot who have not only lost almost all their worldly belongings - houses and hearths - cattle and chattel - but also some of their very close and dear family members.
Under such trying psychological traumatic pressures they are bound to become irritant, short tempered and intolerant in their day-to-day dealings with others. Close community living in limited space with no privacy will affect further their social behaviour towards others.
They will move to the tent cities physically but leave behind their souls and thoughts at their ancestral dwellings. They have to be , therefore, treated with great care, understanding and sympathy at their new places of displacement. In that:-
Counselling by social workers, volunteers and doctors (psychologists) would be of immense help.
MOSQUE: A mosque on an average of 200 family tents must be provided for. Religious activities and belief in Almighty Allah can be the biggest soothers for the aggrieved humanity. Care should, however, be taken in appointing the Khatib who should be learned and not given to any kind of sectarianism.
RECREATION AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES: Keep the residents busily involved in healthy social activities. It will their mind off the tragic thought process.
A reading room with magazines and newspapers, an indoor games hall with a modest carom board, ludo or chess etc, an outdoor playfield - one football can engage at least 22 boys, women vocational centre for stitching, knitting and needle work etc.
JOBS AND VOCATION: To keep them occupied, restore their self-respect and help them become once again the bread-earners of their families, they must be provided with jobs commensurate with their skills, abilities and qualifications.
CATTLE AND ANIMALS: Some of them may still have their cattle and animals alive around. They should be not only be allowed to keep them but also assisted in maintaining them.
Tents villages/cities are no permanent substitute for the populace of the afflicted areas, who would like to go back to their ancestral places as soon as possible.
Great care must be taken in the town planning of the areas to provide them with quake-proof, low-cost modern houses, schools, hospitals and other buildings, soonest possible. Till then let the tent cities/villages make their stay as comfortable as possible.