The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Saplings planted at Sadar Kuppam

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 01, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Saplings planted at Sadar Kuppam

By Sandhya Soman

CHENNAI, MARCH 31 . Thirty saplings were planted in three rows at the beachfront at Sadar Kuppam, nearly 67 km from here, today.

For Kanagavalli and Lakshmi, it was not just an effort to build a bio-shield but an attempt to get a grip on their lives wrecked by the December 26, 2004 tsunami.

The three-pronged relief package, launched in this coastal hamlet by the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), is aimed at providing long-term income, work and ecological security.

Sadras Kuppam, sandwiched between the Kalpakkam atomic power installations and the township for the employees, has three rows of casuarinas, cashew nut and coconut saplings. The site earmarked for a full-fledged poultry farm to be run by 20 women of the village lies close by.

At the village entrance, the MSSRF computerised `knowledge centre' is coming up.

"Each coastal area needs a different kind of approach. We cannot have mangroves here to provide a bio-shield, as there is no estuary. So the first row of the shield consists of casuarinas saplings more tolerant to saltwater," said M.S. Swaminathan, chairman, MSSRF, after planting the saplings.

Venkateshwara Hatcheries will provide 250 chicken, along with chicken feed and some initial capital, to the women so they could earn some income. Especially since fishermen have not been venturing into the sea for the past three months, as they have no nets or motors for their boats. "We will work. Just give us training," said an enthusiastic Kanagavalli.

The `knowledge centre' will complete the picture.

"You will be able to know the weather conditions and even the availability of fish," Mr. Swaminathan told the gathering consisting mostly of women.

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