Subject: Fwd: Kutch appeal
Date: 	Sat, 3 Feb 2001 08:25:19 -0500


>> Subject: Kutch appeal
>> Date: Thu, 1 Feb 2001 14:07:09 -0800
>> 
>> some of you had wanted a longer, more detailed
>> appeal and info about the DASTKAR KUTCH CRAFT
>> RELIEF FUND to use to generate funds from
>> people less familiar with Dastkar and Kutch
>> craftspeople. Below is a text that you could
>> adapt and use as you wish.
>> 
>> Thank you all for your support and good wishes.
>> 
>> LAILA TYABJI,
>> Chairperson,
>> DASTKAR Society for Crafts & Craftspeople,
>> 45B, Shahpur Jat,
>> New Delhi 110049. 
>> INDIA.
>> 
>> Tel: 4695921 & 20 (fax)
>> email: dastkar-AT-vsnl.net
>> 
>> Kutch was the epicentre of  Friday's
>> devastating earthquake;
>> Kutch is the epicentre of India's richest
>> concentration of craftspeople.
>>  
>> Thousands have lost their families, their
>> homes, and their livelihoods.
>>  
>> Dastkar, a national NGO working with crafts and
>> craftspeople, has had close links with crafts
>> communities in Gujerat and Kutch over the past
>> 22 years. They range from Rabari, Ahir, Mochi,
>> and Meghwal village women doing extraordinary
>> embroideries, Khatris practicing centuries-old
>> traditions  of tie-dye bandini and resist block
>> printing,  lakheras doing rogan work and 
>> lacquerwork toys,  potters, shawl and durrie
>> weavers, silver and iron smiths.  Their homes,
>> in Bhuj, Mundra, Bhukodi, Bachau, the Bani,
>> Anjar, and Dhamadka, have been razed. And there
>> is little news of their survival. What is clear
>> that even the survivors have lost all.
>>  
>>  Dastkar has set up, with immediate effect, a
>> Kutch Craft Relief Fund to provide grants and
>> funds towards tools, raw material, re-building
>> workplaces, marketing support, and other
>> infrastructural support - concentrating on
>> assistance towards re-building livelihoods,
>> since many organisations are sending short-term
>> relief in the form of food, blankets,
>> medicare.We are  linking up with VHAI
>> (Voluntary Health Association of India) for
>> medical and health-related assistance and the
>> Disaster Mitigation Institute, Ahmedabad  for
>> other kinds of samaritan relief for the
>> communities. VHAI has a team in place in Bhuj,
>> and has also volunteered to act as a HelpLine. 
>> 
>> The annual Dastkar NATURE BAZAAR begins in a
>> few days on 7th February. Dastkar will provide
>> a free sales service for those groups from
>> Kutch and Gujarat who cannot make the journey
>> themselves, and also use the Bazaar as an
>> occasion to raise awareness and generate funds
>> for relief. 
>> 
>> In addition, Dastkar will be working on a
>> long-term development assistance plan for Kutch
>> craftspeople, similar to its Programme  in
>> Orissa after the 1999 cyclone. We are concerned
>> that this terrible disaster should not lead to
>> distress sales of under-priced craft, or crafts
>> communities selling off their old heirloom
>> pieces.
>>  
>> Help the craftspeople of Kutch rebuild their
>> lives through their own inherent skills and
>> strengths. Your money will go towards providing
>> them a new future 
>>  
>> LAILA TYABJI,
>> Chairperson - Dastkar.
>>  
>>  
>>  
>> Cash/cheques to:- DASTKAR KUTCH CRAFTS RELIEF
>> FUND.
>>                              Dastkar, 45-B,
>> Shahpur Jat,
>>                              New Delhi 110049.
>>                         
>>                             Tel: 6495920 & 21. 
>>                          
>>                             dastkar-AT-vsnl.net &
>> lailaty-AT-vsnl.com
>>                                         
>> Donations to Dastkar are exempted U/S 80G of
>> the Income Tax Act.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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