Kutch village grieves over losing its benefactor

Bhuj, June 30 (UNI) For the people of Kutch village Dudhai, the sudden tragic news of former Delhi Chief Minister Saheb Singh Verma's death in a road accident, in Alwar district of Rajasthan, could not have come at a worse time.

Saheb Singh had adopted Dudhai village after the massive earthquake of 2001 and was instrumental in rebuilding it. He was expected to inaugurate a new building for a college in the village tomorrow accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal, Sant Baba Nahar Singh alias Sonharanwale and BJP MP Navjot Sidhu.

Saheb Singh had come to the earthquake ravaged Dudhai village in Anjar taluka and was taken aback by the destruction. He passionately devoted himself to its reconstruction and continuously remained in touch with the village's progress.

It was through an NGO, 'Rashtriya Swabhiman Trust' which he headed that he actively participated in the village's reconstruction. He fondly named the village after its reconstruction ''Indraprastha'' and was also actively seeking the Gujarat Government's help in giving a taluka headquarter status to it. This was his dream. In a speech once, he had made it clear that, ''I want to see Dudhai as a new taluka headquarter.'' His emotional attachment to the village saw a number of programmes being undertaken. Under his aegis came up a big hospital there. A higher secondary school, a park, a garden and a college were also built.

It was a function for shifting this college to a new building tomorrow that was to be inaugurated by Saheb Singh. The donor for the new college building was Sant Baba Nahar Singh of Mogha district of Punjab.

Said a villager of Dudhai on hearing the news of his death that, ''Dudhai has lost her son.'' Education Minister Anandiben Patel was also expected to attend the function tomorrow which now stands postponed.

UNI