The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : UNDP to help State in rehabilitation of tsunami-hit

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 23, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

UNDP to help State in rehabilitation of tsunami-hit

By A.V. Ragunathan

The Cuddalore Collector, Gagandeep Singh Bedi, explaining tsunami damage to Maxine Olson, United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative (New Delhi), at Thevanampattinam on Saturday.

CUDDALORE, JAN. 22. The Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP-New Delhi), Maxine Olson, today said the organisation would give technical and financial support to the Tamil Nadu Government in rehabilitation and resettlement of the tsunami-affected people. The aim was to support Government efforts to regain the livelihood and provide shelter to the victims. This would be done in consultation with the people in the affected villages, and imparting them training on how to cope with such natural calamities in future.

Ms. Olson, who visited Cuddalore along with three experts, told presspersons that the UNDP had vast experience in dealing with natural calamities: it had brought succour at the time of Orissa super cyclone and Gujarat earthquake.

The team had come to have interaction with the people to ascertain their needs. It was the concern of the UNDP not only to restore their livelihood, but also to improve their quality of life.

On the tsunami damage in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Ms. Olson said the UNDP was mobilising resources to help the people there. Environment was another area her organisation would look into, and this would include drafting a plan for coastal protection.

On the training,she said, "The UNDP was aiming to add value to the pursuit of fishermen by lending necessary fishing technology and fishing processes."

To a question as to when the assistance would come, Ms. Olson said there were certain "operating principles to be observed to ensure that both men and women were equally and fully benefited, and the aid could be expected by mid-February."

Information system

The Cuddalore Collector, Gagandeep Singh Bedi, who accompanied the team, said the he had broached the subject of setting up "village information system". The UNDP was ready to give the software, but a plea had been made to supply the hardware too.

Mr. Bedi said given the number and varieties of fishing vessels that were damaged, the existing factories or manufacturing companies might not have the infrastructure to meet the sudden spurt in demand. Hence, he had appealed to the UNDP to import fishing craft which could be of immediate help to the fishermen.

Coordination

The Emergency Analyst of the UNDP, G. Padmanabhan, said the people were traumatised by the tragedy and they should be made to gain back their emotional composure. He said the UNDP would work in coordination with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank in extending the aid to avoid overlapping or duplication.

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