The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : CII to press ahead with Rs.15-crore rehabilitation plan for tsunami-affected

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 27, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

CII to press ahead with Rs.15-crore rehabilitation plan for tsunami-affected

N. Ravi Kumar

"An opportunity to improve living standards of fishermen" Creation of community infrastructure; vocational training and micro enterprises proposed

— Photo: By special arrangement

WORK IN PROGRESS: An earthmover deployed by CII in Nagapattinam. — Photo: By special arrangement

CHENNAI: : The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), which spearheaded industry's initial response to the tsunami, has got down to executing an elaborate Rs.15-crore rehabilitation plan, focussed on giving the affected, especially fisherfolk, a better life.

The `phase zero' that saw the apex industry body reaching out with relief materials worth Rs.6.5 crores was followed up with an assessment of the needs to rebuild the lives of fishermen, including repairs to boats and engines. The next two phases of the three-year-long programme will involve creation of community infrastructure; capacity building through vocational training and micro enterprises; and redefining fishing practices.

Besides the combined efforts, member-companies have adopted specific improvement projects in Tamil Nadu and on the Andamans and Nicobar Islands, which bore the brunt of the December 26, 2004 devastation. Nine firms have announced plans, and at least six more have evinced interest in taking up projects, according to Rajesh Menon, Regional Director, CII, southern region.

N. Kumar, chairman, CII Tsunami Task Force says: "We want to rebuild a new future ... add value ... give them (the fishing community) a better life."

Though participating in disaster management, relief and rehabilitation is not new for the CII, the tsunami was a learning experience.

Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Kumar, a past national president of the CII, says the attitude of fishermen was different from that of the victims of the Bhuj earthquake. Each had their hopes and aspirations, making the CII think of appropriate approaches.

The point to be noted was that fishermen led good life before tsunami: "They were not interested in alms. Keeping this in mind, the CII decided to build a sustainable partnership and looked forward to addressing an array of issues, including insurance and healthcare programmes. The entire work is being documented by the CII National Disaster Management Committee."

Describing the support extended by industry as quite satisfying, R. ParasuRaman, chairman, CII, southern region, however, feels the flow of funds would have been "much more", had the body spread the word about its initiatives far and wide.

K.N. Krishnamurthy, project coordinator, CII Tsunami Rehabilitation Project, says the devastation was an opportunity to revive the living standards of fishermen. An international conference on coastal resources, planned for either August or September, was among the plans chalked out as part of the rehabilitation. In the last phase, probably from December, the CII would seek to transform fishing practices from sea hunting to sea farming, and introduce the cold chain system.

The components of the second phase of rehabilitation across Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry would cover setting up of citizen information centre, community health centre, fish landing centre and post-harvest facility and schools, including one for special children on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The CII roped in the Organic Farmers Trust to reclaim, using organic methods, 600 acres of farmland, at South Poigainallur in Nagapattinam district, affected by seawater intrusion.

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