Mumbai: Constructed under the joint aegis of the Gujarat state government and Narmadanagar Rural Development Society (Nardes) of Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilisers Corporation (GNFC), Bharuch, Sokhda has been reconstructed at a new site on 20 acres of land at the cost of over Rs 2.7 crore. This site was established in just 10 months, keeping in tact the rural cultural mosaic of yesteryears in the village, while vesting it with attributes and constituents that make for equitable, multi-hazard resistance and decent living standards.

Nardes, a non-governmental organisation, was set up by GNFC for adopting the earthquake-affected Sokhda village and reconstructing the primary school in Bahadurgarh village, Morbi district.

Says GNFC chairman Pradipsinh Jadeja: "GNFC is a corporate that not only holds an important milestone in the economy of Gujarat, but also holds a respectable position as a leading corporate nationally and internationally. Sokhda is a triumph of effective management, timely completion, efficient utilisation of resources and above all the Nardes commitment towards rural development."

Immediately after the earthquake in January 2001, GNFC was the first corporate to shoulder its responsibility in the crisis-struck Kutch district by setting up its state-of-the-art V-Sat communication facilities on 28 January 2001, to enable the stranded people to communicate to their near and dear across the globe about their survival and safety. Besides, GNFC has spent Rs 12.5 lakh on reconstruction of the primary schools in Bahadurgadh and Khakhrala villages of Morbi district and Rs 20 lakh for the construction material for Runad village in Jambusar taluka of Bharuch district. The company initially spent Rs 33.25 lakh on immediate relief measures after the earthquake in Vaudh and Khambhra villages of Kutch district.

The newly reconstructed Sokhda village has 127 seismic-resistant houses, well planned and constructed in four categories. In addition to these, nine houses have been built under the Sardar Avas Yojana and about 12 common amenity buildings have also been constructed. Each of these houses has been designed to be temblor-proof, conforming to the seismic zone four norms of IS-1893 and cyclone forces along the coastal area. Every house has provision for sufficient water storage. Along with the construction of houses, Nardes has ensured the availability of household necessities to every house and has allotted plots in consonance with farmland holdings of the beneficiaries.

Nardes was set up in 1980 with the voluntary membership of GNFC employees and members of their families. Nardes undertakes various social welfare activities with the sole objective of raising the economic standards and promoting self-reliance among the poor, economically marginalised and underprivileged in rural and tribal areas.