The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : In aid of the tsunami affected

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

In aid of the tsunami affected

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: Mangayarkarasi Mahalir Manram presented a cheque of Rs. 1,40,000 to R.

Desikan, Founder Trustee of The Catalyst Trust (which gives aid for the tsunami affected) at a recent function on the Manram's premises at Shastri Nagar, Adyar.

The cheque was given by Sundari Venugopal, president of the manram.

The amount was collected by 16-year-old Ramya Kumar, a 12th grade student of the Lowell High School, Massachusetts, USA. Ramya collected money from her schoolmates. She presented the cheque to the Manram on its 33rd anniversary. During her short stay in Chennai in summer she visited many affected places along the ECR and Mylapore and was impressed with the work carried out by R. Desikan in Chinnandikuppan near Vettuvankanni. Mr. Desikan, who received the money said, the amount would be used for `Project Revive,' which was started to help the tsunami victims. As part of the project, the trust is planning to rebuild Chinnandikuppam. They want to construct a community hall and equip it with vessels and other facilities.

They are also planning to set up a four-room creche where children will be taken care of when their mothers go out to sell fish. The creche would require beds, towels, play equipments and games.

The trust is also planning to set up a computer centre where old people would undergo a 3-hour programme, he said. Children would also be taught to use PCs. A physically challenged girl, who is now doing her MCA through IGNOU, will handle these sessions.

"Developing new avenues for livelihood of fisherfolk is also part of the project", said the trustee. Some of them include providing them a solar dryer and a cold storage facility. They will also be setting up an air-conditioned fish stall.

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