On December 24, 2004, a tsunami originated off the coast of Sumatra as a result of an earthquake that measured 9.3 on the Ricter Scale and lasted for a full ten minutes. The waves from the tsunami devastated a number of coastal areas in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and the Maldives. In India, it was the fishing communities that were the most affected. Besides the thousands of lives lost, the livelihoods of the survivors were doomed because of the boats smashed and the nets torn and rendered unusable.

The government, multilateral agencies and non-government organizations swiftly sprung into rescue and relief operations. Following the emergency relief work, reconstruction activities began. Some of my experiences with the reconstruction efforts are described in the succeeding paragraphs.

Reconstruction Initiatives - Nellore

In the district of Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, around 100 villages were affected. There were two types of affected people - the fishermen who had to go out to sea and members of local ‘'Innadi' tribe who were inland fishermen. In collaboration with the local government, two non-government organizations, Sruti and Navjeevan, started the reconstruction work with the surviving victims of the fishermen community.

Village meetings were held in about 50 affected villages to find out what the victims needed in order to resume their livelihood activities. It was commonly found that requirements were for replacement of lost boats, damaged nets, and funds and food to survive until income could be earned. Based on these findings, reconstruction activities were planned and executed.

The members of the savings group took out loans from the revolving fund to rebuild their livelihood activities and reconstruct their houses. A simple documentation system was introduced to make the procedure formal. The terms for this assistance were that the money borrowed had to be returned to the savings group so that the initial capital did not erode and was available for other emergencies.

Savings groups were formed at the village level and revolving funds were established for each group with an initial capital created from donations received for tsunami relief activities given by different national and international individual and institutional donors in response to call for help for tsunami victims. The members of the savings group were allowed to take loan from the revolving fund to rebuild their livelihood activities and reconstruct their houses. A simple documentation system was introduced to make the procedure formal. The terms for this assistance were that the money borrowed had to be returned to the savings group so that the initial capital did not erode and would be available to meet local needs at times of emergency.

Based on the mutually formed community groups, 1,500 nets and 16 boats were distributed among 1,300 fisher families. 700 Inaadi families were given around 50 wooden catermans and two simple nets for each family. Additionally, about 220 bicycles were distributed to these tribal families who live far from the estuary and have to walk long distances after catching fish. For a few months while these affected communities concentrated on the revival of their livelihood, free food rations were arranged.

Reconstruction Initiatives : Tamilnadu

Similarly, in Devipattinam village in Tamilnadu women self-help groups were formed by Pondicherry Multipurpose Social Service Society. Each member of the group contributed 10 Rupees per week and the collective contribution was estimated to range between 150 and 200 Rupees per week. The amount was deposited to a bank account. The members were allowed to borrow from this fund to start their own shop or facilitate trade — examples are a fish stand, tailoring shop and mushroom cultivation. The borrowing involved a simple documentation and condition of repayment. In addition to replacement of lost boats and nets, young boys and girls of the tsunami affected families were given vocational training to enable them to find suitable alternative employment.

In Cuddalore, Nagercoil and Nagapattinam districts of Tamilnadu, which were the regions worst affected, the government opened child care centers for children who had lost their parents in order to shelter those orphaned by the tsunami. This was a measure taken to counter possible child trafficking attempts.

Conclusion

The collaborative efforts of the government, the civil society and the community with an emphasis on livelihood creation and prioritization of thrift have, after a year, largely ameliorated the sufferings of many survivors of the monster tsunami.




Contributed by Amitava Basu, a Development Practitioner who has worked in Asia and Africa over 28 years. He is actively engaged in poverty alleviation programme of international agencies and governments in developing countries. Amitava has also worked on rehabilitation and reconstruction of projects for disaster affected people in South and South East Asia. He is a Director with Intercontinental Consultants and Technocrats Private Limited, in New Delhi, India

To read other Global Envision success stories about Asia, see What Works Case Studies- Asia.



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