CUDDALORE: The Aditya Birla Group, along with three charities, has constructed 119 permanent houses, at a cost of Rs. 3 crore, for the tsunami-affected people of Thazhanguda.

Rajashree Birla, chairperson, Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development, handed over the houses to Collector Gagandeep Singh Bedi on Wednesday. She cut the ribbon and lighted a `kuthuvilakku' in one of the houses. She opened a public tap and planted a sapling.

Ms. Birla said that immediately after the tsunami struck, her family alerted the TANFAC, a group company in Cuddalore, to provide relief to the victims.

Besides providing "solid roofs over their heads," her Group, through the TANFAC Jan Seva Trust, proposed to set up women self-help groups in the village and train the members in Tanjore painting, tailoring and candle making.

The contributions for the project were as follows: the Government-Rs. 23 lakh (by way of land); Aditya Birla Group-Rs. 1.15 crore (besides Rs. 30 lakh for immediate relief); Habitat for Humanity India Trust in New Delhi-Rs. 1.20 crore; and the Rotary Club of Bombay Seaface and Mehta Charities-Rs. 25 lakh.

Mr. Bedi said the Group had built the houses at a cost of Rs. 1.75 lakh each, and the World Vision would soon construct another 114 houses.

The World Bank had given Rs. 76 lakh in loan for laying cement roads and construction of community hall and anganwadis, and the Asian Development Bank had sanctioned Rs. 8.60 lakh for laying roads.

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