The Hindu : Opinion / Editorials : Raising spirits and sharpening the focus

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Wednesday, Jun 01, 2005

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Opinion - Editorials

Raising spirits and sharpening the focus

Bill Clinton's visit to Nagapattinam district, by far the worst-hit of India's tsunami-affected mainland areas, as the United Nations Secretary General's Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery has been extremely valuable. It has raised spirits all round and also helped do a reality check on the phase of rehabilitation and rebuilding, as distinct from relief where political and social India's response was extraordinary. The charismatic former American President's visit has contributed to sharpening the focus on speeding up the restoration of livelihood to the tsunami-affected people — and building a permanent home for every displaced family. After visiting Sri Lanka and Indonesia's horrendously devastated western region of Aceh where half a million people were left homeless by the tsunami, he sharpened the focus further: "The most important thing is we have to speed up building houses. This is the same problem everywhere that I have visited ... in India and ... in Sri Lanka." Mr. Clinton has promised to return to Nagapattinam within two months. He has committed himself to the task of ensuring that all the committed aid actually arrives. The decision to visit coastal Nagapattinam in India was on the ball: not only was the district devastated on December 26, it also responded spiritedly to the calamity. The district administration, efficiently led by Collector J. Radhakrishnan, has been a model for crisis management. The Tamil Nadu Government's seamless interface with non-government organisations and private donors has made it possible to secure a commitment of Rs. 400 crore to this area alone.

The Clinton visit should also remind the Central and State Governments of the need to work together, putting aside all partisan considerations. It is a matter of concern that only a third of the subsidy scheme announced by Finance Minister P. Chidambaram for the livelihood rehabilitation of fishermen has been utilised thus far. Fishermen have been reluctant to avail themselves of bank loans that came with conditionalities, including insurance. They have therefore tended to look to NGOs and other non-official donors for providing them with mechanised boats or fibreglass vessels — which are now, as a rule, shared by a group of fishermen. A fast-track programme to enable the affected fishermen to repair, rebuild, or replace their fishing vessels is a top priority for tsunami recovery in India. A bigger challenge is the construction of permanent housing for all the displaced families — fisherfolk as well as others. All the other tsunami-hit States have drawn up sound plans but land shortage seems to be a major problem. The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, in addition to NGOs, have pledged adequate resources to fund the massive housing requirements. In Tamil Nadu, land has been identified for housing. The administration needs to get its act together quickly and complete the acquisition process in time for the construction to start before the north-east monsoon sets in. The task will be more challenging in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, from where many families have moved to mainland areas. The Central Government, which began so well, needs to refocus — and recommit itself to this most challenging phase of tsunami recovery. It must come up with all that it takes to enable the affected States and Union Territories to complete the process of permanent rehabilitation and rebuilding at least by the end of 2005.

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