In the diocese of Pondicherry-Cuddalore, 76 boats go back to sea after the tsunami
Devanampattinam (AsiaNews) You could see joy and satisfaction on the faces of the fishermen of Devanampattinam when they went back to sea four months after the December 26 tsunami.
"It's like Easter; after destruction and pain, hope in the future is back," Mgr Michael Augustine, Archbishop of Pondicherry-Cuddalore, told AsiaNews as he described how 76 boats from this village in south-east India, near Cuddalore (Tamil Nadu), returned to sea. The village itself was one of the hardest-hit in the December 26 tsunami.
"Today is a day of celebration in the village, more than four months after the deadly tsunami," said Fr Ratchagar, director of the Pondicherry Multi-Social Service Society (PMSS).
"On May 8, 76 boats went out to sea and came back yesterday with a good catch. They didn't make a lot of money, but what counts is that they recovered a sense of dignity and honour."
Father Ratchagar explained that the reconstruction process under the supervision of the diocese "is going in the right direction".
"We have undertaken livelihood support in 19 villages in the regions of Pondicherry, Karaikal and Cuddalore," he said.
In the area, Devanampattinam plays a key role for 62 neighbouring villages.
"We are concentrating on this village, the reason being that if this village resumes fishing, the other 62 villages will naturally follow suit," Father Ratchagar said.
Before the tsunami there were 129 boats in the area. Each one had two types of nets: one that was 30 kg; the other, 20 kg.
"We repaired all the boats and engines and gave them 40 kg of nets," he explained, hopeful that other villages will follow Devanampattinam's example. "Thajhanguda is another village where we [. . .] have given 10 new boats and nets. And Subbauppalavadi is another. [Here] we have distributed catamarans to 34 people and they were also provided with the necessary nets," he added. The PMSS has also helped farmers to purchase cows as temporary relief.
For Archbishop Augustine, the PMSS's reconstruction work is wonderful. "Our main mission is to create trust and hope among the victims: fishermen, widows and children," he said.
In addition, the PMSS has organised after-school programmes and offered special courses for children so that they could make for the time lost as a result of the tragedy.
The Archbishop added that money is being set aside to encourage people to take in their own orphaned kin during summer break so that the orphans may not feel alone.
Widows have also received aid to ensure their economic independence. "Widows have been provided with [. . .] sewing machines [. . .] to enable them get on their feet and be independent," he said. "This will not only give them monetary independence, but will also protect them from the so-called male guardians, who often prey on them at a time of bereavement."
The diocese of Pondicherry-Cuddalore has spent so far five million rupees (US$ 115,500) in post-tsunami aid.
But one project though has still not taken off: permanent housing construction.
"The state government [of Tamil Nadu] is delaying [the process of] allocating housing sites for permanent houses," Archbishop Augustine lamented.
"The PMSS has been waiting for some time to give these people a decent roof for shelter. This is especially important now that the monsoon season is upon us".
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14/01/2005
