Cuddalore takes a lead in tsunami reconstruction - NIDM

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"They call these dwellings temporary shelters, but life in these dwellings has caused permanent problems to our health," says Senthil of Tarangambadi in Nagapattinam district, where construction work started only a few months back. "Ever since we came to the shelters, we have been suffering from serious ailments.For the past few months,we have been hit by mysterious fevers. Hundreds of people have received treatment," says Kannan, another survivor. According to Selvi of Nagapattinam, mosquito bites, poor sanitary conditions and heavy rains have wreaked havoc in their lives. Many people who have received permanent shelters are not happy either. "The houses are too small. The bathrooms are too dingy. We feel as if we are staying inside a jail complex," says another survivor Vailankanni. Most permanent houses in Cuddalore district, each costing Rs 1.50 lakh, have a covered area of less than 325 square feet However, the situation is not that dismal with all the survivors. Those in Nagore's minitowns, set up by the Mata Amritanandamayi Mutt, say they are happy in their new houses. But administrations of the tsunami hit districts are confident of putting life of the survivors back on track soon. Nagapattinam District Collector Tenkasi S Jawahar said that the works were progressing at a rapid pace and were expected to be completed before May 2007. However, despite the inadequacies in the housing sector, the tsunami-hit areas of the state have registered growth in other spheres like education, livelihood, productivity through Self Help Groups and infrastructure facilities. Most fishermen have become proud owners of fibreglass boats, replacing traditional catamarans. The government as well as the NGOs have liberally donated such boats. Women in the coastal blocks also have made good economic progress through activities like manufacture of leather articles, pickles, bricks, tiles, incense sticks and palm-leaf articles under SHGs. Children in the fishing enclaves now have greater access to modern learning facilities with many multinational companies and other organisations setting up schools and institutions, providing high quality education. Electronics major Samsung has started a school at Chinnagudi in Nagapattinam, while Sri Sri Ravishankar's International Association for Human Values has set up an integrated education complex, offering schooling, vocational training and computer education at Anaikoil. 6
SOS Children's Villages of India and the UNICEF have contributed substantially for improving facilities in the schools of tsunami-hit villages. "In the pre-tsunami era, we had never heard of an English medium school. Now the situation has changed and our children are getting English education", says Perumal, a fisherman of Chinnangudi. Under the Rs 151.71 crore-World Bank fund for infrastructural development, provisions have been made for potable water, roads, school buildings, health units, power supply and sanitation facilities in most of the areas. Tsunami-hit villagers refuse to occupy houses Staff Reporter, The Hindu, Online edition of India's National Newspaper, Tuesday, Dec 26, 2006 Government failed to build houses for all, say fishermen PUDUCHERRY: Residents of Pannithittu, a coastal village near here, have refused to move into the permanent houses, though they were handed over to the tsunami victims on December 13 last year. The fishermen have avoided moving into the 98 houses, saying that the Government had failed to build houses for all victims. "We need about 460 houses. We told the officials that it was not possible for some to move into the new houses and others to stay in the old ones. If only a few of us are given the houses, it could create trouble among us," K. Devanathan alias Manjini, leader of fishermen in the village told The Hindu . He said the Government was also not clear on the distribution of the houses. Pattas had been issued only to seven beneficiaries so far, he added. "It was not possible for us to distribute, as it would only create hatred among us," he added. From the beginning, the villagers were of the view that the process of rehabilitation should be taken up for everyone affected at the same time. Tsunami rehabilitation has some successes, Ramya Kannan, The Hindu, Online edition of India's National Newspaper, Tuesday, Dec 26, 2006 Government says 35 per cent of the task of providing shelters is complete Government says 35 per cent of the primary task of providing shelters is complete State Government, with the help of the Centre, has provided Rs. 784.5 crore Rs.74 crore has been utilised from the World Bank and Rs.89 crore from Asian Development Bank State Government, with the help of the Centre, has provided Rs. 784.5 crore 7
Page 1 and 2: DISASTERS DISASTERS UPDATE UPDATE w
Page 3 and 4: But Mr.Bedi still thinks there are
Page 5: The centres were set up by the Dhan
Page 9 and 10: As it takes stock, the Government s
Page 11 and 12: WORK APACE: Houses being built for
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Page 15 and 16: complain they are stuck with poorly
Page 17 and 18: Bali, Indonesia, Dec. 26 (AP): Thou
Page 19: Moderate quake jolts central Japan

Cuddalore takes a lead in tsunami reconstruction - NIDM

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