15^th January,2005

SOS India’s plan to  rehabilitate Tsunami-affected area of Tamilnadu with focus on resettlement of families in Puduguppam Village, Sirghazi Taluk, in Nagapattinam Districts

All of you are aware of the relief work that is being done to help families affected by Tsunami.

The devastation is what both print media and TV have shown us. All the displaced have been set up in camps and community kitchens are functioning.

SOS is going full speed to build temporary constructions on leased land.  We have completed the construction of 15 homes. Bamboo frame have been built for about 50 houses. We are building 16 x 11 single unit houses with a gap of 8 feet between houses.  Government constructs 12 x 10 with four houses in one unit. We are using lite roofing for both roofs and the sides.  We are planning to put up 10 toilets with four bamboo poles with cloth wrap around.

In one of the houses, we have opened a Balwadi with a local lady as a teacher.  We have arranged for purchase of some study materials and play materials.

We propose to enumerate and list out names of widows who have lost everything. We propose to start the Strengthening Mother programme; by, which these widows will be given the means to support their families.   

We are again enclosing a copy of our tentative budget.

Construction of homes:

Scheduled to be completed by 31^st January.  We have begun construction of temporary houses with lite roofing for 160 families. We will be erecting platforms for installing 4 sintex tanks, repairing the bore-well, installing a pump set, running a community kitchen till the temporary houses are ready and giving the villagers an allowance in cash and kind totaling Rs. 1000/- for a period of three months begining1st February, 2005 until their boats are rebuilt.

Total anticipated cost of the above:             Rs.20,90,000/-

Construction of motorboats and furbishing them with fishing nets:

We would be financing construction of 32 fiberglass motorboats and buying four types of fishing nets.  This phase would run concurrently with Phase 1 and we hope to complete it by mid-March. If this can be taken up quickly, the fisherfolk can resume their life. This is what they need most

Total anticipated cost of the above:                         Rs.51,20,000/- 

All the above would be for the families at Puduguppam.

Day Care Centers:

Besides Puduguppam, SOS is planning to build day care centers in Kanyakumari, Cuddalore, Pondicherry etc., to look after children and will also be financially helping women widowed by Tsunami with financial help over a an initial period of one year.  The budgeted cost is to be worked out.

As and when we are able to locate land for permanent structures, we will construct permanent homes for all of them.  The cost is being worked out and would depend on allocation of land by government or outright purchase of land. 

We are conscious that while tackling the physical needs of the affected, we also have to work with the emotional and psychological needs of the people of the affected children.

As a first step a team of artists working with the Aseema Trust together with trained counsellors from School of Social work will coordinate with SOS conduct programmes of interactive theatre workshops and give counselling for both adults and children.  The work will be documented and can be replicated by any other group.

They would need a support of Rs.50,000/- for 12 sessions.