Earthquake in Gujarat and

caste discrimination
Introduction
The powerful earthquake that struck the kutch
area in Gujarat at 8:46 am on 26 january 2001
has been the most damaging earthquake in the
last five decades in india . The M7.9 quake
caused a large loss of life and property . over
18,600 persons are reported to be dead and
over 167,000 injured; the number of deaths is
expected to rise with more information coming
in. The estimated economic loss due to this
quake is placed at around Rs.22,000 crores
(~US$ 5 billions)
The earthquake was felt in most parts of the
country and a large area sustained damages.
About 20 districts in the state of Gujarat
sustained damage. The entire kutch region of
Gujarat, enclosed on three sides by the great
runn of kutch, the litter runn of kutch and the
Arabian sea, sustained highest damage with
maximum intensity of shaking as high as X on
the MSK intensity scale. Several towns and large
villages, like Bhuj, Anjaar, Vondh and Bhachau
sustained widespread destruction. The other
prominent failures in the kutch region include
extensive liquefaction, failure of several earth
dams of up to about 20m height, damage to
masonry arch and RC bridges, and failure of
railroad and highway embankments.
Effects of earthquake in Gujarat.
1. Loss of life and property.
2. Damage to infrastructure.
3. Damage to transport system.
4. Earthquake also impacts the economic of
the country.
5. Earthquake impacts on the environment.
6. Another social impact is related to the fact
that many homes are destroyed by
earthquakes. Therefore, people lose their
property and become homeless. Since
1900, earthquakes have made more than
65 million people homeless
Economic Impacts of Earthquakes
Earthquakes frequently do not only ruin
the buildings in the area but also destroy
the related infrastructure. While there is a
chance of people’s rescue in case an
earthquake was forecasted, constructions
cannot be protected. Thus, mass
destructions in locations of the
earthquakes cannot be effectively
prevented. However, the primary effects
of an earthquake can be not as dangerous
as the secondary ones, which are a
tsunami, fire, landslides, liquefaction, and
fault rupture” (Wyss & Shroder, 2014, p.
203). Thus, the short-term economic
impacts include the destruction of
industries, businesses, and the necessary
infrastructure. Moreover, such issues as
looting can sometimes be observed. In
addition, the destruction of roads and
railways, as well as other items related to
transportation, negatively influence the
economy because they make business
relations more complicated. Long-term
economic impacts comprise the necessity
to rebuild the ruined locations, which is
both times- and cost-consuming (Guha-
Sapir, Santos, & Borde, 2013). Moreover,
the vital character of reconstruction need
demands the focus of investment on the
damaged area. Therefore, the expenses on
economic development reduce, which
leads to income losses.
Environmental Impacts of Earthquakes
Environmental impacts of earthquakes
can be not as evident as social and not as
cost-consuming as the economic ones.
Still, they should be considered in the
current analysis. Thus, immediate
environmental impacts include the
destruction of landscape, both built and
natural. Also, there is a risk of explosions
of gas pipes, which can cause fires as well
as contaminate the area. Fires, in their
turn, are dangerous for woods and their
fauna. Landslides are also a frequent
consequence of an earthquake in many
regions. Finally, earthquakes in coastal
areas can lead to tsunamis, which also
destroy coastal flora and fauna and lead to
floods. A more global or long-term
environmental impact of an earthquake is
the loss of significant landmarks, both
natural and human. Moreover, such
events as biodiversity are at risk as well.
Conclusion
On the whole, earthquakes are one of the
key focuses of emergency management.
Despite technological progress and
opportunities for predicting earthquakes,
the impacts of every specific earthquake
cannot be predicted in detail and
prevented. Therefore, these natural
disasters cause mass destruction of
buildings, constructions, and natural
resources as well as victims among the
population. Moreover, they have some
impacts that are closely interrelated.
These impacts comprise social, economic,
and environmental aspects. Therefore,
earthquakes affect the location and the
people living there. Certainly, the level of
destruction depends on the power of an
earthquake, the place where it develops,
and the distance from the epicenter.
Nevertheless, in the case of a strong
stroke, the consequences are severe. They
comprise the destruction of houses, social
and business infrastructure, natural
landscape, and other aspects necessary
for people’s life. Still, while short-term
impacts are evident and can be mitigated,
the long-term impacts can influence the
development of the affected area for many
years.
Caste Discrimination
Introduction
Issues like untouchability and casteism
are still common in rural areas. The
reason for this is the deep rooted
traditions of casteism. Not just adults,
even children are subjected to this form of
discrimination. Be it in the community,
schools or even the playground, many
children face humiliation because of caste
discrimination. There have been instances
where during the mid-day Meals served in
schools, children of schedule castes have
been asked to sit separately and eat;
scheduled caste girls have been asked to
clean the school toilets; and teachers have
asked children belonging to the minority
community to sit right at the back in class.
Thank you.