The Hindu : National : `Focus on rehabilitation'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 09, 2005

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National

`Focus on rehabilitation'

Staff Reporter

For the Sake of Honour Award for Nagapattinam Collector

WELL-DESERVED:The Editor-in-Chief, The Hindu , N. Ram, presenting the For the Sake of Honour Award to Nagapattinam Collector J. Radhakrishnan in Chennai on Saturday. — Photo: K.V. Srinivasan

CHENNAI: The immediate concerns in rehabilitation of tsunami victims lay in restoration of livelihood for both the fishing and the non-fishing community, provision of permanent shelters to them and offering continued health monitoring, J. Radhakrishnan, Nagapattinam Collector, said here on Sunday.

Receiving the For the Sake of Honour Award from Rotary Club of Madras Midtown, Dr. Radhakrishnan said the district administration was doing its best in providing psycho-social support to tsunami survivors, besides preparing the populace up for unknown disasters.

The administration was now focussing on quick restoration of livelihood and building permanent shelters.

He underscored the importance of institutionalising relief organisations such as Rotary Clubs and codifying their roles in relief and rehabilitation following any disaster. He thanked the Government for its support and several people who had toiled with the district administration towards providing relief for the victims.

The citation traced his career achievements, including his efforts as Chennai Corporation Commissioner to partner with Rotary to fight against polio and his campaign to clean Vaigai river as Sivaganga Collector.

Presenting the award, N. Ram, Editor-in-chief, The Hindu, said Dr. Radhakrishnan represents a new trend in the civic services where people of outstanding professional background "get off the beaten track and join the services. This new cadre of civil servants who are very committed to social causes want to make a practical difference on the ground."

Besides handling the tsunami disaster or the Kumbakonam fire tragedy in the emergency stage, he has also encountered the challenge of rebuilding lives and providing psycho-social support to the survivors.

The cradle baby scheme he introduced in Salem was an outstanding effort that saved the lives of several girl babies. Responsiveness, apart from sympathy, makes a lot of difference, he said.

If this trend is sustained, India would have a good administration with outstanding people in charge, he said.

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