The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : "Information about impending calamities can reduce losses"

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 30, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

"Information about impending calamities can reduce losses"

Special Correspondent

Efforts of NGOs in tsunami relief lauded Efforts of NGOs in tsunami relief lauded

CHENNAI: The best way to prevent huge loss of lives in a calamity is to keep the people well informed about the impending danger and the potential risks involved through use of technology, the Tamil Nadu Governor, S.S. Barnala, said on Tuesday.

He was distributing relief to tsunami-affected fisherwomen of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh as part of the last phase of the tsunami rehabilitation measures of the Working Women's Forum (India) (WWF).

The Governor lauded the efforts of non-governmental organisations, which, he said, played an important role in carrying out relief after the tsunami on December 26 last year. The Government geared to extend all facilities to mitigate the disaster. The bond of humanity brought various people and NGOs to the tsunami-hit areas to extend necessary help. The capability to predict and prevent disasters was a must. "However, we should also be ready to respond and cope with its consequences", Mr. Barnala said.

S. Mohan, former Judge of the Supreme Court, who presided, said the tsunami was the worst tragedy of the millennium.

Uma Relan, Consumer Credit Head, Citibank, New Delhi, said that in India the employees of the bank contributed Rs. 1.68 crores while Rs. 1.07 crores came as tsunami relief grant from the Citigroup Foundation. About Rs. 50 lakh was given to WWF from employees contribution and Rs. 20 lakh from the foundation for immediate relief.

Jaya Arunachalam, president of WWF, said 1,182 fisherwomen in the WWF's branches were affected by the tsunami and the estimated cost of rehabilitation was Rs. 98.83 lakhs.

In a press release, Ms. Arunachalam said of the total number of affected people, 962 members lost their fishing nets, 55 their catamarans, 67 their homes and 98 their fishing trade. Over Rs. 98.83 lakhs financial assistance was received from national/international foundations, such as Citibank Foundation, Rabobank Foundation and other groups.

About 25 lakhs was distributed as immediate relief to all affected in the first phase. Distribution would be completed before this month-end.

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