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'This page has been approved by the United Grand Lodge of England’
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Tsunami Relief - Status Report as on 6th January 2005 TSUNAMI RELIEF - MASONIC DISTRICT OF MADRAS STATUS REPORT (WEEK 2) Immediately in the aftermath of the TSUNAMI Disaster we had to decide on our Masonic District’s (which covers all the affected Southern States of India) intervention in relief. There were choices to be made in relief and later rehabilitation so we thought it best to hold our interventions for a week or so to assess what we could best do, given our limited resources and expertise, and after receiving feed-back from our Lodges. We therefore sent out feelers to our own Daughter Lodges particularly to Lodge Cauvery at Thanjavur (near Nagapattinam / Karaikal), and Lodges Quilon and Cochin for their feedback on what was needed, observing the above concepts and most importantly working through local authorities and NGOs experienced in Disaster Management already functioning in the affected areas. Following their responses, initial disbursements have been made basically directed to the relief and shelter of children, supply of Drinking Water and the provision of household essentials such as Kitchen Utensils, Dry rations etc. From the various responses received, we feel that our efforts should be in specified areas of relief both in terms of geographical limitations, and the nature of those initiatives. Moreover, it was felt that any relief initiative should progress in roughly the same direction and genre as the rehabilitation to follow. Relief without subsequent rehabilitation would serve no long term purpose for those affected. Children have been the most affected and we wish to concentrate our donations in this area, and the Executive Council of the District Grand Charity which met this week (on the 5th) has chosen to work with the S.O.S. Childrens’ Villages and Chatnath Homes who have established themselves in the Nagapattinam Area. A sum of Rs.5,00,000/- is ear marked for distribution through this channel. As larger collections from our Masonic Brethren come in, we shall move towards more substantive rehabilitation initiatives in these designated areas in a manner dictated by the quantum of those receipts. Chennai City and its environs will be the responsibility of the City Lodges who have not yet approached us, but we feel this may be on account of the tremendous response by the ordinary citizenry in mobilizing relief around here. However even here, we advise that we keep to the focus of effort outlined above. We have been receiving un-solicited offers of support from Masons from around the World and to all of them our sincere thanks on behalf of all those affected by this Tragedy. We will be happy to receive any donations towards our Masonic effort, which may be sent favouring “The District Grand Charity Fund (A/c.TSUNAMI RELIEF), at Freemasons’ Hall, 87 Ethiraj Salai, Chennai (MADRAS) 600 006. The Trust itself is a recognised Charity under the provisions of the Indian Income Tax Act. Do watch this space to monitor the progress of our effort, and to have an idea of the Channels of distribution and the beneficiaries selected within our approved parameters, for the outward flow of funds.
By the authority of The R.W. DISTRICT GRAND
MASTER, MADRAS 6th JANUARY 2005
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Designed and maintained by
H. L. Ratan for
the DGL - Madras |
