The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Training came to their rescue

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 07, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Training came to their rescue

By Kausalya Santhanam

CUDDALORE, JAN. 6. When the State Government began a training programme in rescue operations in October last, fisherfolk of Saamiyarpettai in Chidambaram taluk of Cuddalore district were sceptical. They thought they would have no use for such a programme. But not now.

Thanks to the training, members of the local disaster relief committee of Samiyarpettai saved 100 lives. "The rescue operations were carried out promptly. All the injured survived, as we gave them first aid," says Bhushanavathy, a young fisherwoman. "We told them that preparedness is necessary," says the Sub-Collector, Ratnoo. The women were more enthusiastic than the men in learning the methods demonstrated by the Fire Department personnel. Groups were trained in shelter management and in distribution of relief materials.

The villagers are now managing the distribution of relief materials stacked in the Pinnai Vazhi Amman temple. But the village is now grieving the death of Shanti, one of the trainees, who was washed away while buying fish close to the sea.

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