Tsunami- Relief and Restoring Livelihoods & Habitats

DHAN Foundation Initiatives - Update 6

January 12, 2005

I.  Tamil Nadu

1.  Nagapattanam district

1.1 Seerkali block

Housing: The team had committed to construct 40 houses in Olaikottaimedu village. The team has completed the construction of 30 semi permanent shelters in this village. Of these 10 houses have got toilet facility and work is in progress for the remaining houses. Along with the community the team is involved in identifying housing sites for another 10 families. Similarly the team has committed to construct 60 houses in Mudavanmedu villages. The land allotment for the same has been completed and purchase of materials done.

Children and women Needs: The team has undertaken the identification of women tailors for the stitching of children’s uniform and blouses for women. Already tailoring machines have been purchased for this purpose. Purchase of materials for uniform stitching for 600 children has been done and will be distributed after pongal. The team members are also involved in counseling the women affected.

Agriculture: The team convened a meeting of 62 farmers in Thandavankulam to discuss about impact of the salt water on their agricultural lands and their farm ponds and find out ways of addressing the same.

1.2 Keevelur block

Housing: In Pudupally Panchayat the construction of a common shelter to house 40 members has been completed. A community kitchen for them has also been set up and is in operation and is currently feeding about 256 persons. A Temporary shelter has been constructed in North Sallikulam and another one is under construction. In Kameshwaram village there is a need for 70 semi permanent houses. The team has done the preliminary work for the construction of ten houses.

Agriculture: The farmers needs are the most neglected especially related to the reclamation of their lands.  DHAN team members along with the community has undertaken the work of channel clearing and desilting in two villages of North Sallikulam, South Sallikulam in Vettaiakara iruppu Panchayat and Kameshwaram Panchayat.   

Fishing:  The team has undertaken the damage assessment works of the fishing community and identification of fishing labourers in Saruthur village.

2. Cuddalore District

Restoration of livelihoods: The field teams undertook an assessment of the livelihood restoration needs of the families in 10 villages.

II.  Pondicherry

2.1 Karaikkal region

The team has done an assessment of needs in Karaikkal. They  have observed that the relief activities by various agencies are comparatively less and slow when compared to Tamilnadu. Agriculture is severely affected but it is the least concentrated area by the agencies.

3.   Andhra Pradesh

3.1 Nellore District

A team from DHAN Foundation did an assessment of the situation in Nellore with the support of the district administration. There are 12 coastal Mandals in Nellore District, out of which, 10 Mandals are affected by Tsunami. The earlier intervention of Velugu (government programme of Women SHGs) in these Mandals was very less and after tsunami, they took it as an entry point and spread rapidly into all the coastal Mandals – promoting people’s institutions, Registration of VO’s, opening bank accounts etc.  The Tsunami relief activities are in full swing with sufficient funds mobilized from various sources. A Standing committee meeting with bankers was held on 11^th Jan 05 to make clear about the monetory distribution and contribution by the Government and the bankers. Different NGO’s of Nellore, Kavali and Ongole have shared their relief activities and their future plan.