The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : USAID team meets tsunami-hit families

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Monday, Feb 21, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

USAID team meets tsunami-hit families

By Our Staff Reporter

NAGAPATTINAM, FEB. 20. A high-level team from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) visited 650 tsunami-affected families housed in temporary shelters at the ITI campus here on Saturday.

The team comprised George Deikon, mission director, Naina Mink, team leader for disaster management, Kristen Kelleher, communication officer, and Balaji Singh, disaster management, USAID, New Delhi.

Naina Shah, vice-president, Exnora International, Chennai, accompanied them.

G. Rangarajan, programme coordinator and V. Ganapathy, advisor, Exnora (Tiruchi district), spoke about the initiative taken up by Exnora in implementing solid waste management programme on the campus.

Exnora volunteers had undertaken a joint campaign with the district administration in creating awareness among the families on segregating bio and non-biodegradable waste.

Paramanandam, field officer, explained how segregated waste was deposited in specially constructed compost shed. Nearly eight kgs of garbage was being collected every day.

V. Ganapathy spoke about the programme for youth at Akkaraipettai, Keechankuppam and Kallar in Nagapattinam on alternative skills. They were being trained in the manufacture of cement rings and toilet slabs.

He said 30 women in Poompuhar had also been provided training in making wire bags.

Earlier, an Exnora centre and the information-cum-medical first aid centre was inaugurated on the campus.

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